Arsenal fan Benjamin Morse 'catapulted' onto car windscreen in Halesowen by 'murderous' driver, trial told
A fanatic Arsenal fan who suffered fatal injuries having been "catapulted" onto the windscreen of a car was mowed down with "murderous intent," a court heard.
Benjamin Morse, who was also known to his friends as Benjamin Morse the gunner, was struck by a Vauxhall Corsa in Beach Street, Halesowen, in the early hours of May 1 having just been dropped off by a taxi with a group of friends.
Nidal Alboraiki, aged 21, accepts having been the driver but denies murdering Mr Morse.
The prosecution allege there was an exchange of some kind between Alboraiki and the group which prompted him to drive towards them.
It is alleged he initially missed before turning the car around, accelerating toward them and hitting Mr Morse from behind at around 26mph.
Mr Richard Atkins QC, opening the case against Alboraiki this morning at Wolverhampton Crown Court, said: "He catapulted Mr Morse onto the windscreen, over the car and onto the road.
"This caused catastrophic injuries. Despite the best efforts of people at the scene, and of paramedics, Mr Morse subsequently died.
"To drive at the group once is bad enough, but to turn around and do it again and to hit Ben from behind demonstrates that Nidal Alboraiki not just drove dangerously, but was driving with murderous intent."
Alboraiki, of Foxhunt Road, Halesowen, is said to have fled the scene and abandoned the car later that morning. He is accused of seeking to dispose of the Corsa, for which he is charged with seeking to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Atkins added: "He arranged for the disposal of the car, claiming to have been in an accident with a tree."
It is also alleged Alboraiki later sought to recover a telematics device fitted to the car but was unsuccessful before being arrested by police on the driveway of his home later that afternoon.
Alboraiki's younger brother, 19-year-old Ahmed Alboraiki, of the same address, is also on trial. He is accused of seeking to pervert the course of justice by taking a mobile phone from his older brother during his arrest and disposing of it. The phone has not been recovered by the police.
The jury was told Mr Morse, aged 36, of Yewtree Road, Halesowen, had spent the previous day drinking with friends in Birmingham. Mr Atkins said it was "probable" some had used cocaine.
Some of the group ended up at the Rose & Crown in Hagley Road, Halesowen. Four left in a taxi around midnight and were dropped in Bloomfield Street North, at the junction with Beach Street.
Minutes later residents described hearing shouting, wheels spinning and a revving engine, said Mr Atkins.
The prosecutor added it was "not clear" whether something was said between the group of friends and Alboraiki immediately before the incident.
The two brothers deny the allegations against them. The trial continues.
