Cardiff: Courier killed by stolen van was 'hardworking'

A delivery driver killed by his own stolen van was "a hardworking man, who was simply trying to protect his and other's property," a court has heard.

Mark Lang, 54, was hit by the van, and dragged around half a mile along one of the busiest roads in Cardiff.

He died in hospital 18 days later.

Christopher El Gifari, 31, from Aberdare admitted taking the van, and causing Mr Lang's death, but denies murder.

Prosecutor David Elias KC said Mr Lang was standing in the middle of the road in his hi-vis vest, and the defendant ran him down without any deviation.

The jury was shown photos of the van's bonnet with a dent in its centre showing the area of impact.

Mr Elias said: "Mr El Gifari must have been looking straight at him."

The jury were also shown CCTV footage of the moment of impact, and the van's onward journey.

Members of Mr Lang's family broke down in tears, and comforted each other, as the final moments of his life were shown, several times, from different angles, in slow motion.

Mr Elias added that the van was being driven "so fast" on North Road, that "it activated the speed camera" and was going at 47mph (75km per hour).

He said El Gifari drove the van at Mark Lang "deliberately" and "decided to run him over."

"When he made that decision, he must have at least intended to cause very serious injury to Mr Lang," he said.

Defending El Gifari, Mark Graffius KC, told the jury that the defence case will be that the defendant was trying to "frighten" Mr Lang out of the road adding that "he didn't intend to cause him harm", and that he thought he would move out of the way.

El Gifari denies murder and robbery, but has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and theft.

The trial continues.