Driver admits police manslaughter

Leayon Dudley pleaded guilty at his retrial

A labourer who killed two police officers when he smashed into their car during a high-speed pursuit has pleaded guilty to their manslaughter.

Leayon Dudley, 41, from Acocks Green, Birmingham, entered his plea at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Thursday.

He was jailed for life in May 2003 for the deaths of Leicestershire Pcs Andrew Munn and Bryan Moore, but he secured a retrial at the Court of Appeal.

The officers were killed when Dudley's van hit their car on the A42 in 2002.

The father of two, who was nearly twice the legal drink-drive limit, was originally convicted of murdering one officer and unlawfully killing the other following a trial at Stafford Crown Court two years ago. He was ordered to serve a minimum 15 years.

Pcs Bryan Moore and Andrew Munn were killed in August 2002

The Court of Appeal ruled the verdicts were unsafe on the grounds that Dudley was not permitted to call a defence expert relating to road visibility.

A retrial was due to start on Wednesday, but the prosecution was unable to bring a second trial on two counts of murder as he had already been acquitted of the murder of Pc Munn.

Brian Escott-Cox, defending, told the new trial if Dudley had intended serious harm to one officer and was therefore guilty of murder, he would also be guilty of murdering the other officer, whether or not he knew he was in the vehicle.

'Extreme reluctance'

Prosecution counsel Frances Oldham QC said that after consultation with the families of the two officers, they had decided with extreme reluctance not to proceed with the murder charge.

Dudley then entered pleas to the two counts of manslaughter by means of an unlawful and dangerous act.

Judge Mr Justice Mitting adjourned sentencing until Monday.

The two officers were killed after Dudley had a row with his girlfriend over allegations she was seeing someone else.

He was seen by police speeding through Birmingham in his van, but refused to pull over and stop.

Patrol cars and a helicopter joined the pursuit as it continued on to the M42 and A42.

Constables Munn and Moore had stopped to lay a device on the A42 to stop his van as it crossed into Leicestershire.

Previous convictions

They were just stepping out of their car when Dudley smashed into their car, killing Pc Munn instantly. Pc Moore died in hospital hours later.

Dudley was trapped inside the overturned van, but repeatedly punched and swore at an officer who tried to rescue him.

He had been in and out of court since he was 13 and has a string of convictions for assaults, burglaries and criminal damage, including attacking police.

The widow of Mr Munn, Allison Munn, 37, hit out at the legal system after the case and said she felt "cheated".

"We arrived at court yesterday, expecting to receive a fair hearing but due to gaps in the judicial system, we have been left with no alternative but to accept two counts of manslaughter," she said.

"This man has now been given the right to diminish his sentence, diminish his convictions and quite literally get away with murder.

"Are our husbands' lives worth that little?"