AN alleged drugs boss could have killed a moped rider moments prior to a fatal collision if this was his aim, his defence has argued.
Keith McCarthy’s terrifying high-speed pursuit of Kerrin Repman, 29, ended when he knocked the latter off his moped in April 2020.
Dad-of-three Kerrin was pronounced dead at the scene in Marine Parade, Dovercourt, from the catastrophic injuries he sustained.
McCarthy, of Hordle Street, Dovercourt, was subsequently charged with murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent. He denies both charges.
CCTV footage played to Chelmsford Crown Court from a camera on the corner of First Avenue captured McCarthy’s BMW zooming through Fronks Road as he carried out his chase.
Katherine Burke, of Essex Police’s Forensic Collision Investigation Unit, said this footage suggested McCarthy, 42, had travelled at an average speed of 67mph until the point of impact 285 metres later.
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Further evidence from road traffic collision experts stated the defendant could have caught up with Kerrin sooner, such was the disparity in engine power.
Jane Bickerstaff KC, for McCarthy, said: “If he had wanted to ram into the scooter he clearly could have done so.
“Why did he not do so on a relatively empty, fairly straight [Fronks] road?”
Ms Bickerstaff drew on witness evidence stating his BMW was seen being driven like an “absolute looney” about 40 minutes before he encountered Kerrin, adding this was a “chance encounter”.
She said there was 45 seconds between the pair first encountering each other, adding: “That is the maximum amount of time this defendant could have had to form a murderous intent.”
The court has previously heard McCarthy had become aggrieved with a drug dealer who owed him money.
This was dispute was said to be being taken out on Kerrin, who was allegedly working for the dealer to repay a debt he had accrued.
“He was a user and a street dealer trying to pay off his own debt,” said Ms Bickerstaff.
“There’s a whole cast of people who might have [wanted to] injure him.”
- The trial continues
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