Cardiff: Thief drove through, at and over victim, court hears

A thief who stole a parcel van drove "through, at and over" its owner, a court has been told.

Christopher El Gifari, 31, denies the robbery and murder of Mark Lang in Cardiff in March, but admits theft and manslaughter.

Mr Lang, 54, died in hospital 18 days later from injuries sustained after being dragged almost half a mile under the vehicle on North Road.

Mark Graffius KC, defending, told the court the killing was "unplanned".

But David Elias KC, prosecuting, told the jury at Cardiff Crown Court the defendant drove "through, at and over Mr Lang".

Mr Elias said collision investigators found Mr El Gifari touched the van's brakes for a "fraction of a second" but continued driving at Mr Lang.

He said: "He saw Mark Lang in the road. He deliberately drove at him.

"He was not braking when he ran over Mark Lang."

Mr El Gifari had a clear view of Mr Lang in the road as he hit him, the court was told.

"There was no deviation at all," Mr Elias said.

CCTV footage showing the van being taken on Laytonia Avenue and driven into Mr Lang was played to the jury.

Mr Elias said: "He must have meant to cause him at least serious injury by driving a two-tonne van directly at and over his victim."

The jury was told the defendant accepted he drove the van and made a "deliberate and conscious" decision to drive at Mr Lang.

Mr Elias said the defendant told police his intention was to frighten Mr Lang but that he was "almost seeing the whites of his eyes".

After his arrest, Mr El Gifari told police he thought Mr Lang would move and he tried to drive around him.

"That is a lie," Mr Elias said.

Mr El Gifari did not take to the stand on Tuesday to give evidence in his defence.

In his closing speech, Mr Graffius said there was no evidence Mr El Gifari meant to kill or seriously hurt Mr Lang.

He said: "By not driving at maximum speed, but driving at less than 20mph, does that not show an intention not to kill or cause serious harm?"

He told jurors Mr El Gifari began thinking of pressing the brake by taking his foot off the accelerator, adding there was no evidence of acceleration.

"It shows you an awareness of speed and a desire, you may think, to moderate his speed," he said.

He said the reduction of speed from 18mph to 17mph showed a lack of intention.

"Doesn't that lack of acceleration add force to what Mr El Gifari told police when he said 'I didn't mean to hit him'?" Mr Graffius said.

The court heard there was medical evidence Mr Lang suffered no serious injury at the point of impact on Laytonia Avenue.

The case continues.