An irate driver used his car “as a weapon” to run over two men – killing one – when his wing mirror was snapped off, a court heard.
Uran Nabiev, 63, is accused of “taking the law into his own hands” by mounting the pavement and ploughing into friends Jake Kemp and John Ambler with his Toyota Prius.
Mr Ambler, 33, was struck on the arm and left in a heap on the ground while Mr Kemp, 26, was able to get up and tried to flee, the Old Bailey heard.
However he tripped and fell while trying to escape, and Nabiev allegedly drove over his body and dragged him along the pavement.
Mr Kemp suffered a serious head injury and died in hospital three days after the alleged attack.
Nabiev, who had been drinking vodka at home before the incident on October 19 last year, later turned up at a friend’s house when he was heard to say “thief, thief, they broke the car”.
He denies murdering Mr Kemp and the attempted murder of Mr Ambler, as well as lesser charges of manslaughter and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Prosecutor Anthony Orchard QC said Mr Ambler had been on a night out with Mr Kemp when he drunkenly punched out at Nabiev’s parked car at around 4.30am, and the two men continued walking along the pavement in Bexley Road, Erith, southeast London.
Nabiev, a pizza delivery driver, is accused of getting into his car in response and driving after the two men.
“Uran Nabiev used his car as a weapon to attack both Jake Kemp and John Ambler”, said Mr Orchard.
“Instead of ringing the police to report his wing mirror damage, he took the law into his own hands with tragic consequences.
“He drove deliberately at John Ambler first. Having struck him with the car, he manoeuvred the vehicle expertly backwards and then chased after Jake Kemp.
“Jake had no chance. He ran and fell. Despite a clear time gap, the defendant made no attempt to brake. The Toyota was accelerating. It dragged the prone Jake Kemp for about nine metres before driving off.
“No attempt was made to stop. The defendant knew exactly what he was doing when he drove at both these men as they walked on Bexley Road. They stood no chance.”
Nabiev flew back to his native Azerbaijan after the alleged attack but was arrested on his return to the UK in November.
He told police he was “extremely sorry” for Mr Kemp’s death, jurors heard, but insisted he “did not intend to harm anyone or to cause them serious harm”.
The trial continues.
