Car driver found guilty of murder after running over man in Accrington town centre

A car driver has today been convicted of murder after running over a man in Accrington town centre.

Muhammad Haarith (pictured above) was behind the wheel of a VW Passat which ran over Matthew Weller on the evening of April 22 this year.

Matthew was dragged underneath the car as it drove off.

It followed an exchange of words between one the passengers in Haarith’s car and Matthew who was described as vulnerable.

Haarith drove off from the scene, leaving 44-year-old Matthew severely injured.

Members of the public came to his aid, and he was treated by paramedics before being taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Very sadly, he died from his injuries at 1.20am on April 23.

A Home Office Postmortem showed the cause of death was multiple injuries.

Haarith, who was 22 at the time, had four teenage passengers – three aged 17 and one aged 18 – in the Passat on April 22.

It was a car both registered and insured to him at his home address in Accrington.

Around 9.45pm the Passat was parked on Blackburn Road while one of the passengers went into a local shop.

Matthew (pictured above) walked past heading towards Birch Street and there were words exchanged between him and back seat passenger through an open window.

Matthew continued walking, spoke to the occupant of another car, this happening as Haarith’s Passat set off.

Haarith’s car slowed as it approached Matthew and then stopped.

Matthew was seen to sit on the nearside front wing of the Passat while it was stationary.

Then moments later, the Passat set off with Matthew still on the bonnet.

Matthew fell to the ground and went under the car, the front wheels going over him.

He was dragged along the road and into Birch Street, the rear wheels going over him before he came free from the underside of the car which continued driving on Birch Street and left the scene without stopping.

Officers located the Passat abandoned on Barden Road, Accrington, which was about a third of a mile from Haarith’s home.

Haarith handed himself at Greenbank Police Station, Blackburn, around 10.30pm on April 23.

Following a five-day trial at Preston Crown Court, Haarith, 23, of Exchange Street, Accrington, was today found guilty by a jury of murder.

He will return to the same court to be sentenced on Monday.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Harry of our Force Major Incident Team, said: “Haarith’s deliberate actions led to Matthew Weller losing his life in this shocking way.

“He used his car as a deadly weapon and caused Matthew’s death.

“My thoughts remain very much with Matthew’s family as they continue to grieve for Matthew.”