Sheldon Flanighan death: Murder accused was 'seething'

Sheldon Flanighan was killed in the car park of the Bay Horse Inn on 1 April

A drunk van driver was "seething" when he drove at and killed a man in a pub car park, prosecutors have said.

Off-duty ambulance worker Sheldon Flanighan died and his friend Wayne Common was seriously injured when they were run over outside the Bay Horse inn in Cramlington in April.

Toby Kelly, 38, admitted manslaughter but denies murder and attempted murder.

Prosecutor Christopher Tehrani KC told Newcastle Crown Court Mr Kelly intended to "at least" seriously harm the men.

The court has heard Mr Kelly became angry and attacked his partner after bar staff refused to serve his group any more drinks on 1 April.

In his closing speech, Mr Tehrani said Mr Flanighan, 55, and Mr Common were "two decent, middle-aged men" out for a meal with a friend when they attempted to break up the brawl.

He said the men were "entitled" to try and stop Mr Kelly beating his girlfriend but Mr Kelly responded "aggressively and violently" because "he felt offended".

The victims intervened after a fight broke out at the Bay Horse Inn

Mr Tehrani said Mr Kelly, who had drunk up to nine pints of lager, was "seething" when he stormed out to his van, drove aggressively around the car park and lined up facing the pub doors.

Witnesses said they heard Mr Kelly say to Mr Flanighan "I will kill you" and shout at Mr Common that he would "never see [his] kids again".

Mr Tehrani said they weren't "just empty threats" as two and a half minutes later Mr Flanighan was dead and Mr Common was seriously injured.

Mr Kelly drove at the two men, who had gone outside as their lift home had arrived, hitting them and then reversing back over them, the court heard.

'Dishonest to core'

Mr Tehrani said Mr Kelly initially tried to claim to police it was an accident, then that he had acted in self defence and finally that he had driven at the men only to "frighten" them.

The prosecutor said Mr Kelly "still clings to" the claim he didn't realise he had hit the men but he must have known he had driven over them.

He said Mr Kelly was "dishonest to his core" and his "expression of remorse" and "shedding of crocodile tears" while giving evidence to jurors was "nothing more than a poor and desperate attempt to seek your sympathy and portray himself as a victim of circumstance".

Mr Tehrani said there was nothing stopping Mr Kelly just leaving the pub car park but he "chose" to remain and had a "real intent" to cause both men "at the very least" really serious harm.

Mr Kelly, of Wansbeck Avenue, Blyth, had denied any offences but admitted manslaughter and causing grievous bodily harm part way through the trial.

The trial continues.