Cowardly driver jailed for murder after running over man in Accrington town centre

A car driver who ran over a man in Accrington town centre has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Muhammad Haarith drove his VW Passat with victim Matthew Weller trapped underneath, dragging him down the road for several metres.

He callously drove away from the scene in the Blackburn Road and Birch Street area of Accrington, abandoned the car and went to get a takeaway.

Matthew, 44, was left with severe multiple injuries and died in hospital a short time later.

He was vulnerable and had exchanged words with one of Haarith’s friends in the Passat shortly on the evening of 22nd April this year.

After words were exchanged, Matthew was seen to sit on the nearside front wing of the Passat while it was stationary.

The Passat then set off with him still on the car, this causing Matthew to fall and go under the car where the front wheels went over him.

He was dragged along the road under the car as it turned into Birch Street, the rear wheels going over him before he became free from the underside of the vehicle.

The Passat was later found abandoned in Barden Street, with Haarith handing himself in at Greenbank Police Station, Blackburn, around 10.30pm the following day.

Haarith, 23, of Exchange Street, Accrington, had denied murdering Matthew.

He was found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court last Friday of murder at the end of a five-day trial.

Returning to the same court today (19th October) Haarith was given a sentence of life imprisonment.

Judge Robert Altham, the Recorder of Preston, ordered that he serve a minimum tariff of 16-and-a-half years - minus 177 days spent on remand - before being eligible to apply for parole.

Passing sentence, Judge Altham said that Matthew had suffered a 'terrifying and agonising death' due to Haarith's driving.

The judge also said that while Matthew had vulnerabilities, he had family who loved him and Haarith's actions had taken him away from them.

No sentence will ever feel long enough

A statement from Matthew’s family said: “We are pleased that the jury saw through Mr Haarith’s calculated behaviour and found him guilty of Matthew’s murder.

“The decisions Mr Haarith took that night led to Matthew losing his life in a violent and undignified way.

“Mr Haarith left Matthew in the road without a care or concern for him; taking steps to avoid the police whilst Matthew was fighting for his life.

“No sentence will ever feel long enough or bring Matthew back, but we are content that justice has been served for him.”

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Harry of our Force Major Incident Team, added: “Muhammad Haarith’s callous and deliberate actions led to Matthew Weller losing his life in this horrifying manner.

“He showed a complete disregard to Matthew’s life, driving the car over him and continuing to drive for some distance with Matthew trapped underneath.

“Haarith left Matthew in the road with horrendous injuries, choosing to drive off and abandon his car, one which he had used as a deadly weapon.

“I hope that the jury’s verdict and the sentence imposed by the judge can deliver a sense of justice to Matthew’s family.”