Pensioner killed in hit-and-run as he walked home on Christmas Eve, court hears
A pensioner who was killed in a hit-and-run after suffering 'grave injuries' had been walking home from a club where he had been socialising with friends on Christmas Eve, a court heard.
Bernard James Smith, known as Jim, was discovered at the junction of Shakespeare Road and Wordsworth Avenue, in Stafford, in the early hours of Christmas Day last year.
The 83-year-old suffered broken arms, a broken leg, there were fractures to his breast bone, ribs and spine, ligaments were torn and he suffered significant brain injury during the fatal collision, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday.
He had been walking to his home in Shakespeare Road from Highfields Social Club.
Josef Moscicki is accused of his murder and hitting the pensioner with his Ford Transit van in Burns Avenue, Stafford, and dragging him more than 650ft under the vehicle.
Mr Robert Price, prosecuting, said it had been 'obvious' Mr Smith had been underneath the van and he had also been wearing a high visibility jacket.
He said: "During the course of that journey along that stretch of road for 200m Mr Smith received grave injuries as his body connected with the road surface."
He said 23-year-old Moscicki drove away from the scene as Mr Smith laid in the road injured and unconscious but returned a short while later.
"He then did something we submit was unspeakable', Mr Price said.
He said Moscicki deliberately drove over Mr Smith's legs in front of eye witnesses before leaving the scene.
Mr Price said it was likely Mr Smith had still been alive at the time, although was likely unconscious.
When police attended they spotted his van in the area and officers attempted to stop it by stepping into the road, but Moscicki drove at an officer forcing him to jump out of the way, the court heard.
He later drove into a dead-end cul-de-sac and was arrested.
Mr Price said Moscicki claimed he had no recollection of the incident.
He said: "We say the features of the evidence demonstrate a clear and settled intention to cause Mr Smith at the very least really serious injury and at the worst to cause his death."
Moscicki, of Little Acres, Gorse Ride North, Wokingham, Berkshire, denies murder but has admitted death by dangerous driving.
The trial continues.
