Man denies road rage murder charge

A MOTORIST ran down a pedestrian and repeatedly drove over him in a road rage incident, a court heard yesterday.

He then dragged the victim along underneath the car and “left him for dead”.

Philip Cousins died in hospital from multiple injuries less than 10 hours later. The 23-year-old had parallel tyre marks on his body and a number of skull fractures among 32 injuries he suffered, prosecutor Martin Meeke QC told Exeter Crown Court.

John Foster, 36, a window cleaner, living at the time in Spinning Path Gardens, Crediton, Devon, pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Cousins on September 24 last year.

The prosecutor said that, after an argument between the two men, Foster drove his green Rover at Mr Cousins, knocking him to the ground.

“And having done so he drove over him, so that his victim ended up underneath the car between the front and rear nearside wheels,” said Mr Meeke.

Foster then stopped and reversed his car over Mr Cousins, before driving forward once again over him.

He then drove off with Mr Cousins underneath the car, dragging him for about 35 yards before he appeared from underneath the vehicle.

Mr Meeke told the jury Foster then drove away and “left him for dead”.

The prosecutor said Foster, who was arrested in a pub, later told the police he was terrified he was going to get a hiding, having been told to get out of the car.