Driver 'deliberately killed policemen'

A jilted lover deliberately rammed his van into two police officers killing one of them instantly and fatally injuring the other, a court has heard.

Police had been following 39-year-old Leayon Davi Dudley from the West Midlands and into Leicestershire in August 2002.

He had failed to stop but the pursuit finally ended when his van smashed into the patrol car at 80mph, turning it into a fireball and killing the officers, Stafford Crown Court was told.

Pc Andrew Munn, 37, from Long Eaton, Derbyshire, took the full impact of the van and was killed at the scene on the A42 in Leicestershire.

His colleague, 39-year-old Bryan Moore, from Leicestershire suffered massive injuries as the car was thrown across the carriageway.

He died several hours later in hospital.

Dudley deliberately drove a Transit van at about 80mph into a marked police car

Michael Pert

Mr Dudley, of Oakhurst Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the two officers.

The court was told Mr Dudley's reaction after hearing Pc Munn had been killed.

"I was driving all right and indicating, but he had to be the big hero.

"All he had to do was stay behind me but oh no."

The jury was told that after drinking at a party, Mr Dudley visited the home of his ex-girlfriend, the mother of his two children, seeking a reconciliation.

Pcs Bryan Moore and Andrew Munn were hit at 80mph, the jury heard

They argued on her doorstep in Birmingham before Mr Dudley drove off.

A police officer then spotted Mr Dudley allegedly driving at 70mph along Stratford Road, Birmingham, 40mph over the speed limit.

He followed the speeding driver with blue flashing lights on and Mr Dudley slowed down but did not stop.

Police cars pursued him along the M42.

Pc Munn and Pc Moore, from Leicestershire Police were instructed to lay down a stinger device where the M42 turns into the A42 dual carriageway.

Prosecutor Michael Pert QC said Mr Dudley's van mounted the kerb.

"Dudley deliberately drove a Transit van at about 80mph into a marked police car as two police officers were getting out of it and they were both killed."

The trial has been adjourned until Tuesday.