Driver's death a 'cold-blooded' act

The case is being heard at Cardiff Crown Court

A delivery driver who was run over as he tackled two men who had stolen his van was killed in a "deliberate and cold-blooded act", a court has heard.

Father-of-two Jason Weaver, 36, was run over as he tried to flag down the men who had taken his van from outside the Mothercare Store in Caerphilly, south Wales, following a two-mile chase along surrounding roads.

It was a deliberate and cold-blooded act which horrified those who witnessed it

Prosecutor Ian Murphy QC

He died from head and chest injuries in hospital four days later on 14 April.

Matthew Watkins, 24, denies murder but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Cardiff Crown Court, while 22-year-old Daniel Bishop has admitted a charge of aggravated vehicle taking.

Ian Murphy, QC, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Weaver heard the sound of an engine starting and tyres screeching as he talked to a staff member in Mothercare.

He ran outside, flagged down a passing motorist and said: "That's my van. It has been stolen, can you follow it?"

Mr Weaver and Derek Craig, the driver of the Vauxhall Astra, followed the Federal Express van for two miles towards the nearby village of Rudry.

When they found the van parked by the side of a road, Mr Weaver ran in front of his vehicle with his arms outstretched.

Van driver Jason Weaver died in hospital

The prosecution claimed that Watkins, who was driving the van, then accelerated "hard and fiercely" straight at Mr Weaver.

Mr Murphy told the jury: "The next moment, to the horror of Derek Craig and other witnesses, the van accelerated fiercely towards Jason Weaver, who had absolutely no chance of escape.

"The van drove straight over Jason Weaver, who was dragged underneath and suffered terrible injuries from which he died."

Mr Murphy said Watkins, formerly from Caerphilly, could have avoided Mr Weaver.

"It was a deliberate and cold-blooded act which horrified those who witnessed it."

Intensive care

After running over Mr Weaver, Watkins "panicked" and tried to escape by driving off at high speed along narrow country roads

He crashed the van into a bank around a mile away and then both he and Bishop tried to flee on foot, before they were caught and arrested by two police officers.

Mr Weaver, from Pontypridd, was rushed to the intensive care unit of the Royal Gwent Hospital, in Newport.

He had a fractured skull, bleeding on his brain, and fractures to his pelvis, back and ribs.

Mr Murphy added that Watkins was given a breath test after being arrested and was found to be "the worse for drink".

He initially told police that Bishop was driving the van when Mr Weaver was run over, claiming that the two had swapped places shortly after the vehicle was stolen.

But the jury was told that Watkins now admitted having been driving the van and had pleaded guilty to manslaughter, on the grounds that he did not intend to kill or seriously injure Mr Weaver.

The jury was told that Bishop, of no fixed abode, had already pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated vehicle taking, but was told to disregard the same charge against Watkins.

The case continues