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    Van driver, 33, ‘deliberately’ mowed down and killed teacher, 50, in ‘road rage’ attack before leaving him dying in the road, jury is told

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    By Editor,Ian Leonard,James Tozer

    Copyright dailymail

    Van driver, 33, 'deliberately' mowed down and killed teacher, 50, in 'road rage' attack before leaving him dying in the road, jury is told

    A van driver ‘deliberately’ mowed down and killed a teacher in an alleged road rage attack, a jury heard today.

    Paul Bowles, 50, died in Oldham, Greater Manchester on March 26 when he was allegedly knocked to the ground by Andrew Robson, 33, after the pair got into a fight near a roundabout.

    Robson, who runs a fencing business, has gone on trial at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court accused of Mr Bowles’ murder, which he denies along with a charge of manslaughter.

    Opening the prosecution’s case, Gordon Cole KC told the jury that Mr Bowles had been driving home in his grey Nissan Qashqai, in which his 19-year-old daughter was a passenger, along Broadway at around 6.30pm.

    Mr Cole said Robson’s white van was driving ‘very close’ to the Nissan, and when the vehicles reached a roundabout a ‘road rage’ argument developed between the pair.

    ‘The argument resulted in both Mr Bowles and Mr Robson getting out their vehicles and there being a fight,’ he said.

    ‘The fight stopped and Mr Robson got back in his van, but before Mr Bowles could get back in his vehicle Mr Robson deliberately drove his van, swerving it deliberately in the direction of Mr Bowles and deliberately hitting him.’

    Mr Coles said Mr Bowles was ‘carried some distance’, perhaps as he clung on to the front of the van, before he fell to the ground.

    The jury heard how Robson then drove off and most likely made arrangements to dispose of the van, which has never been recovered.

    Mr Bowles was treated at the scene but couldn’t be saved and died from head injures.

    Robson, of Chadderton, later handed himself in to police but answered ‘no comment’ to all questions.

    Mr Coles told the jury: ‘There was ample opportunity, we say, to see Mr Bowles in the road and swerving towards him was a deliberate act.

    ‘And swerving towards him was a clear indication of what was on his [Robson’s] mind.’

    He added that it was anticipated Robson will claim he did not deliberately drive his van at Mr Bowles and did not intend to kill or seriously harm him.

    It’s also anticipated that Robson will say he was unaware he had collided with Mr Bowles.

    A former actor and drama teacher, Mr Bowles worked as a learning support assistant at St Anne’s C of E Lydgate Primary School, in Saddleworth, near Oldham.

    The trial – expected to last ten days – continues.

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