Man run over and killed after fight, court hears

Three men are currently on trial over the death of James Roberts, from Alne

A man was hit by a car and then driven over while on the ground in retaliation following a fight, a court has heard.

James Roberts, 24, from Alne, North Yorkshire, died after being struck by a white Audi being driven on Silver Street in Scarborough in the early hours of 8 March.

The driver of the car, Cory Davies, 27, is on trial at Leeds Crown Court accused of murder. The vehicle's passengers, Derek Roye, 66, and Jakub Sobczak, 32, are also on trial alongside him for manslaughter.

The defendants, who all live in Scarborough, have denied the offences.

Earlier jurors were told how Mr Roberts and the defendants did not know each other, but had got into a dispute after leaving the Opera House Casino in the town centre.

Police officers intervened and the groups went their separate ways before clashing again minutes later.

Prosecutor Peter Moulson KC told the court Mr Roberts was thought to have assaulted Mr Sobczak during the second confrontation.

"Those incidents, you may think, provide a motive," Mr Moulson said.

"Each of them shared the intention to at least cause Mr Roberts some harm."

The incident took place on Silver Street in the town

In the case of Mr Davies, Mr Moulson said he intended to cause the victim "serious bodily harm or death" by knocking him over and then driving over his body.

CCTV footage captured the defendants heading back to an address on Victoria Park Avenue where they all lived before returning to the town centre in Mr Davies' Audi and spotting Mr Roberts.

Jurors heard the car was travelling between 10 and 12mph when it hit Mr Roberts, who was described as a "loving son, brother and uncle" by his family.

He suffered a fractured skull, rendering him unconscious "instantaneously", and died at the scene a short time later as a result of a blunt head injury.

The hearing was told Mr Roberts' injuries indicated he may have been driven over, a theory consistent with eyewitness accounts.

'No planning'

Mr Moulson said Mr Davies "accelerated" away from the scene and left his car parked away from his home address.

He and the other defendants were arrested shortly after the incident. None of them dispute being in the car.

During an interview with police, Mr Davies said Mr Sobczak was "angry" after he ended up on the floor following a fight with Mr Roberts.

He claimed he had been trying to calm his co-defendant down by taking him for a drive.

Mr Davies said he had seen a man in the road on Silver Street and "moved to the right" to try and drive around him before he felt something similar to a "speed bump" underneath his vehicle.

He admitted he knew there was not a speedbump on Silver Street, but had "panicked and drove off at speed".

Mr Sobczak told police he was "extremely drunk" and said "at no point" did he agree "to cause anyone any harm".

Mr Roye also said there was "no planning" involved and claimed he had not seen the collision take place.

The trial continues.

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