A FOOTBALL fan who was killed by his car tripped and fell beneath its wheels, a court heard yesterday.

Glynn Ellis, 46, of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, was collecting his car from his brother's garage in St Lawrence Quay, Salford Quays after watching Manchester United at Old Trafford.

After driving the car out of the garage, he left the engine running to close the garage door when a thief got into the car, the court heard. Mr Ellis was then run over and killed.

Paul Branchflower, 19, of no fixed address, admitted on Monday to the manslaughter of Mr Ellis. He denies murder.

At an earlier hearing, Mr Branchflower had admitted aggravated vehicle taking.

Giving evidence at Manchester Crown Court, Stephen Jowitt, a forensic engineer, who carried out an inspection on the vehicle said it appeared likely the deceased man tripped. There was no evidence the car had struck a pedestrian, the court heard.

"There is no indication of any contact, greasemarks, or transference of dust. I am discounting the possibility that he was upright when he was struck. It appears likely to me that the owner tripped or stumbled,'' he said

In interviews, Branchflower told police Mr Ellis had "come out of nowhere". He had tried to reverse off him but the car was ''stuck'', he said.

Mr Jowitt said a fracture in Mr Ellis's head was probably caused by him hitting the brick paving.

Earlier, Mr Justice Grigson ordered the jury to return not guilty verdicts on charges of aggravated vehicle taking against Daniel Hulmes, 20, of Whalley Range, Manchester, and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The trial continues.