A murder-accused father deliberately drove into a motorcyclist who was in a high-speed chase with his son, causing brain damage and a severed spinal cord, a court has heard.
Jurors were told that Richard Radbourne, 47, died from “multiple traumatic injuries” after Murat Karakas collided with his Harley Davidson in Comberford Road in Tamworth, Staffordshire, on March 3.
Karakas, 51, denied his murder and manslaughter charges, and is standing trial at Stafford Crown Court also charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
Opening the Crown’s case on Friday, prosecuting barrister Michael Burrows KC alleged that Karakas committed murder and said: “Richard Radbourne was chasing this defendant’s son.
“When Murat Karakas learned what was going on he armed himself with a bat, got into his car and rather than drive after them, he drove the other way.
“The prosecution say he drove round in the other direction because he intended to meet them as they came around the loop again.
“He then pulled out in front of Richard Radbourne.”
The court was told that Karakas’ son and Mr Radbourne were travelling above 70mph along 30mph speed limit roads when the collision happened.
Karakas, of Gillway Lane in Tamworth, drove his “big car at a motorcycle to cause at least serious harm”, the prosecutor said.
A post-mortem examination showed Mr Radbourne suffered multiple “serious” injuries including a bleed on his brain, damage to his brain stem, a severed spinal cord, a torn aorta and fractures to his spine and thigh bones, the court was told.
Mr Burrows said despite efforts from paramedics, Mr Radbourne was pronounced dead at the scene and Karakas was arrested.
The jury heard there was no evidence to suggest there were any defects to either vehicle – the motorbike or Karakas’ Audi Q3 – that could have contributed to the collision.
After the crash, the Harley Davidson was so “extensively damaged” that a police officer at the scene “could not tell what make or model it was”, the prosecutor told the court.
Mr Burrows said: “Murat Karakas went out to stop the motorcyclist, he was out to use violence.
“At 10pm Murat Karakas was seen coming out the house carrying a bat before he got into the car and reversed out.
“The prosecution say he had that bat because he was out for violence and the fact that he tried to conceal it shows that.”
Mr Burrows alleged that Karakas “deliberately” drove into the victim to stop him, using the car as a “weapon”.
“This collision does not appear to be any typical loss of control by the driver of the car. As I understand, the defendant does not suggest that he lost control of the car at all.
“His case is that Richard Radbourne was on the wrong side of the road and he, Murat Karakas, deliberately drove into the centre of it hoping the motorcyclist would stop.
“The Crown say he knew the inevitable consequences of his actions. There was bound to be a collision.
“Richard Radbourne was almost certain to be killed in that collision or at least sustain really serious injuries – that’s murder.”
The trial continues.
