'Driver ran over man's head deliberately', court hears

Jack Field, from Hailsham, died aged 24

A Saturday night scuffle between a group of young men in East Sussex escalated into murder after one deliberately drove over another's head, a court has heard.

Jack Field died aged 24 after a Mitsubishi Shogun was driven over his head following the fracas in Hailsham in November 2023.

The jury at Hove Crown Court heard on Monday that Kyle Dumble, 27, was driving the vehicle.

Mr Dumble denies murder and attempted grievous bodily harm.

Amy Packham, prosecuting, told the jury: "The first defendant found himself witnessing his friend, Jimmy Stonestreet, get involved in a fight.

"It was unexpected, it was unplanned. They didn't even know the other young men involved, who had been drinking and who had clearly wound up Jimmy Stonestreet.

"Kyle Dumble had a decision to make – let his friend be outnumbered or do something to help. Perhaps not wanting to risk hurting himself, he jumped into the car Jimmy had been driving.

"He began to drive towards the group of males who were either involved in fighting Jimmy or splitting up the fight, or were with those who were.

"Stepping back from deciding whether or not that was a reasonable thing to do, it did give Jimmy a chance to run back to the car and get in. And that's where the incident could have ended."

The court heard that Mr Dumble decided "to continue on the offensive against the males in the street" and that he had "used the vehicle as a weapon".

Ms Packham said Mr Field and another man, Jake Barry, were standing between two parked vehicles. She alleges that Mr Dumble reversed the Mitsubishi into those vehicles, knocking Mr Field to the ground.

"[Mr Dumble] was seen to look out of the open driver's window before [driving] forward, killing Jack Field. He then drove away," said Ms Packham.

The trial continues.

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