Witness tells how car killed Villa fan; COURT: Driver denies murdering victim as tensions ran high after local derby.

Byline: Paul Bradley

A WELL-known Aston Villa fan told a jury how a car narrowly missed him before it ran over and killed one of his son's friends.

Danny Brown gave evidence at the murder trial of Lee Mockble at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

He told the jury that a Volkswagen Golf was heading directly for him but missed, instead killing 26-year-old Villa fan Christopher Priest as it crashed into him.

Mr Brown and Mr Priest had been part of a group of around ten people who were walking down Aston Hall Road after Aston Villa beat Birmingham City 5-1 at Villa Park on April 20 last year.

The Golf, allegedly used as a murder weapon by Mockble, had been involved in an altercation with the group of Villa fans before it "shot off" down the road before performing a rapid U-turn and driving deliberately at the group, the prosection alleged.

Mockble, 21, of Robin Hood Lane, Hall Green, denies murder and causing death by dangerous driving.

Giving evidence in court, Mr Brown said: "The car was going too quick. When I saw the car come towards us I was in fear that it wasn't going to stop.

"I was on my back foot and couldn't move out of the way.

"It missed my right shoulder and then I knew it had hit somebody behind me and somebody had gone down." The court heard that minutes before the Golf hit Mr Priest it had had its window smashed by a pint glass that Mr Brown's son, Daniel, had thrown as he walked out of the New Aston Social Club.

Among the group of Villa fans walking out of the club was Daniel Zouch, who had been with his brother and a friend.

Giving evidence, Mr Zouch said: "Chris slipped and fell on to his back in the road.

The front wheels of the car went over him and then the back two went over him and I saw his body go up and down.

"I was in shock." Questioning Mr Zouch, Mark Wall, for the defence, said: "Was it not the group's view that the Golf was responsible for Daniel (Brown) being arrested for throwing a glass and you were going after it to go and get it?" Mr Zouch replied: "Yes." (proceeding)

CAPTION(S):

Witness Daniel Zouch and (inset) collision victim Christopher Priest. Christopher Priest's relatives pay their respects at the scene of the tragedy.