Jury retires in police deaths case

Leayon Dudley's memory of the crash is 'patchy'

The jury in the trial of a drink-driver who has pleaded not guilty to murdering two police officers by ramming their vehicle has retired to consider its verdict.

Leayon Davi Dudley, 39, led police on a 50-mile pursuit in his Transit van before mounting a verge and ploughing into the back of a patrol car, a court heard.

The car exploded into a fireball, killing Leicestershire police officers Andrew Munn, 37, and Bryan Moore, 39.

Mr Dudley, of Oakhurst Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, pleaded not guilty to the murder of the two officers at an earlier hearing.

'Refused to stop'

The jury at Stafford Crown Court heard that Dudley had rowed with his ex-girlfriend outside her home in Birmingham before jumping into his van and speeding off.

A police officer spotted him driving at 70mph along Stratford Road, Birmingham and a pursuit followed, but Mr Dudley refused to stop.

Pcs Munn and Moore were instructed to lay down a stinger-type device to stop the van as it crossed into Leicestershire and on to the A42 dual carriageway.

Mr Dudley was later found to be nearly twice the legal drink drive limit.

He told the court he was "totally ashamed and totally sorry" over the deaths of the two officers.

He said during the trial that his memory was "extremely patchy" and he was trying to undertake the patrol car when he swerved to avoid a ditch.

He said he had no intention of crashing into anyone or anything.