Three murder suspects who were due to stand trial today after a man was fatally hit by a car during a knifepoint chase have been formally cleared after one defendant pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Chris Maclean, Jack Hunt and Daniel Martin were arrested and charged with the murder of Jay Gerrett following his death in Sittingbourne on August 2 last year.
The 32-year-old had been threatened with a large knife by Maclean following a drug deal, and then, while fleeing the men, fell from a wall and into the path of a car carrying a couple and their young grandchild in St Michael’s Road.
Maclean, 43, of Pembury Court, Sittingbourne, Hunt, 38, of Platinum Way, Borden, and Martin, 33, also of Pembury Court, subsequently pleaded not guilty to murder at a hearing in October, with their trial due to start this morning (February 24) in front of Mr Justice Pepperall KC.
But following discussions among lawyers and before a jury was sworn, Maclean this afternoon admitted killing Mr Gerrett.
This was accepted by the prosecution who then offered no evidence on the murder charge in respect of all three defendants, leading to Mr Justice Pepperall entering formal not guilty verdicts into the court record.
Maclean will now be sentenced on Thursday (February 26) on charges of manslaughter, as well as possessing a knife and being concerned in the supply of cocaine.
Hunt faces sentencing on May 1 in respect of a single charge of being concerned in the supply of cocaine to Mr Gerrett on August 2 — an offence he admitted today.
Martin was freed to go, however, after also being formally cleared by the judge on a charge of perverting the course of justice. Again, the prosecution offered no evidence.
The car which hit Mr Gerrett was not related to the incident in any way.
The decision to accept Maclean’s guilty plea to manslaughter and dispense with a murder trial was taken after the Crown Prosecution Service was said to have “realistically” reviewed the case “at the very highest level”.
Prosecutor Ryan Richter told the packed courtroom that the victim’s family, who attended the hearing, had also been consulted.
On the fateful night, Mr Gerrett had been buying cocaine when he was threatened with a knife.
CCTV captured Maclean chasing him as he ran off before falling from a height of about 6ft onto the road below.
Although police and paramedics attended, Mr Gerrett was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Richter told the court that it was “the action with the knife” that caused the victim to run, resulting in his “tragic death”.
At the inquest opening last year, area coroner Katrina Hepburn explained that a 999 call had been made to police by a driver who said a man’s body had fallen onto their car.
Regarding the charge of perverting the course of justice against Mr Martin, it had been alleged he took a hat belonging to Maclean and washed it to prevent police from obtaining evidence.
At the end of today’s proceedings, Maclean and Hunt were remanded back into custody until their sentencing hearings.
Speaking outside Maidstone Crown Court this afternoon, detective chief inspector Zoe Traynor of Kent Police said: “We were expecting a prolonged trial however one of the defendants, Chris Maclean, accepted responsibility of the death of Jay Gerrett.
“We are very pleased with the investigation that our officers completed has led to justice for the victim’s family in this case.”
Mr Gerrett was a scaffolder and lived in Redmayne Drive, Chelmsford.
Following his death floral tributes were left along St Michael’s Road, with one that reads: “Special partner. Forever and always in my heart. I love you.”
Mr Gerrett’s family did not wish to speak to reporters as they left court.
