Jurors were shown CCTV of a dad-of-four’s final movements before he was run over by a car while riding his bike in a suspected hit-and-run incident.
Carl Eland, 37, could be seen cycling along Homerton Road, Middlesbrough, with his partner Kassi Weir sitting on the handlebars before they were hit on August 21 last year, in the North Ormesby area.
He died on August 25 after never recovering from the injuries he sustained in the crash with the white Vauxhall Insignia, which was later found burnt out.
Brandon Ali, of Dalwood Court, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, and Joey Matthews, of Newcomen Green, Middlesbrough, are accused of murder and attempt to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. The pair, both 21, deny the charges.
Read more: LIVE - Two men in court accused of murdering Middlesbrough man Carl Eland
Opening the case on Wednesday at Teesside Crown Court, Craig Hassall QC, prosecuting, told the jury how the car 'deliberately' drove onto the payment and into the pair on a bike, who were on there way to a beauty treatment.
Mr Hassall said: “At 9pm they were sighted on the pavement of Homerton Road, near to the junction of Parklands Close, when a white Vauxhall Insignia deliberately mounted the pavement and drove into the bike.
“Kassi Weir fell sideways from the handlebars and suffered only minor injuries. Carl Eland was thrown into the air with the bicycle.
“He landed headfirst onto the carriageway. He was lying on the ground with his legs tangled in the bike. He was bleeding from his ears, nose and mouth. His eyes were open, but he was unconscious.”
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Carl Eland died on August 25 after treatment was withdrawn at James Cook University Hospital. A post-mortem revealed that he had died from extensive skull fractures and bruising to his brain.
Police launched an investigation immediately to identify the car, which the court heard was purchased off Facebook Marketplace the day before. CCTV footage showed the car travelling in several locations around Middlesbrough before and after the incident.
Mobile phone records were obtained for the two defendants’ phones, and investigators used cell site analysis and CCTV footage to identify whether their mobile phone usage was consistent with them being in the car.
Jurors were then showed footage of the car driving into Carl Eland and Kassi Weir, which didn’t stop and continued driving. Pictures were shown in court of the bike wreckage as police rushed to conceal the scene in the aftermath of the incident.
The trial continues.
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