Peter Maughan death

THE mum of a four-year-old boy sent texts “fearing for her life” before her cousin rammed her and her son off the road, a court heard.

Peter Maughan tragically died when his parents’ truck was run off the road in an allegedly deliberate high-speed hit-and-run.

Peter Maughan death
Four-year-old peter suffered devastating injuries to his head, chest and abdomenCredit: PA
 

Hayley Maughan in a yellow dress and fascinator with her family.
Hayley messaged her mum as her family was chased down the A2, a court heardCredit: Facebook
On the evening of June 1 last year, Peter’s grandmother Erica Maughan received a series of WhatsApp voice notes from her daughter Hayley.

Ms Maughan told the court their exchange lasted four minutes, but brought “a thousand things” to her mind.

The jury heard Hayley was travelling along the A2 London-bound with her husband Lovell Mahon in her Ford Ranger Wildtrak.

Their two children, Peter and his one-year-old sister Annarica were also in the car.

A second Ford Ranger, allegedly driven by Hayley’s cousin Owen Maughan, chased the family along the road, the court heard.

Maughan was also with his father, Patrick, 54, who was sat in the front seat.

Hayley messaged her mum and shared video footage of the truck as it “drove on top” of her and her family, the court heard.

She told her mother the motor was getting very close to hers and said she feared for her life because she thought the car was “trying to ram” them, the jury were told.

Hayley’s first messages to her mother identified her cousin and described him as being “mowldy” – a traveller term for drunk – the court heard.

The initial messages also stated that he was “driving on top” of them.

Ms Maughan said she tried “to keep things calm and quiet and let it blow over” as she advised her daughter to “drive on.”

Driver accused of murdering boy, 4, was "on wrong side of road when he rammed car"
Owen Maughan is accused of killing the four-year-oldCredit: Cover Images
 

Four minutes of panic: Gran tells of frantic WhatsApp messages before boy, four, died in horror crash
Peter’s grandmother shared the message exchanges she had with her daughter before tragedy struckCredit: Cover Images
One read: “We have driven on 20 times. What is wrong with people?

“Man’s trying to drive on top of us. Genuinely in fear of my life. He is trying to ram into us.”

Ms Maughan replied, telling Hayley to make her way home, before adding that she should “ram them.”

She told the court: “I was so panicked I didn’t really know what I was saying.

“There were a thousand things going through my head and I just wanted to get them home safe.”

Video footage was later sent to the grandmother showing the two motors side by side at a roundabout at the end of an exit slip road.

The footage showed Lovell Mahon shouting out of his window at Owen and Patrick Maughan, telling them “Children are in the motor.”

Within 12 seconds of that encounter Erica’s messages and calls began to go unanswered.

A court heard that the family’s truck had been rammed in the rear at around 60mph.

The collision caused it to spin out of control and roll three times before finally coming to a halt at a right angle across the road.

Ms Maughan told police: “I didn’t know what was going on, where they were. I was feeling so frightened for them. I had no idea what was going on.”

Hayley’s cousin Owen and his father Patrick, who are accused of ramming the motor off the road and killing four-year-old Peter, fled the scene in their motor after the smash.

A Tesla driver and his passengers would then discover a screaming Hayley, carrying her bleeding daughter in one arm and limp Peter in the other.

They were rushed to Darent Valley Hospital by the heroic passers-by but tragically nothing could be done to save Peter.

Hayley Maughan and Lovell Mahon with their children, Peter and Annarica.
A court heard the two families had not spoken for years after a rift developed between Hayley’s dad and his sisterCredit: Cover Images
 

Driver accused of murdering boy, 4, was "on wrong side of road when he rammed car"
Peter’s father Lovell suffered serious injuries in the crashCredit: Cover Images
The youngster was pronounced dead by medical staff shortly after arriving in hospital.

He had suffered severe and devastating injuries to his head, chest and abdomen.

Hayley and her daughter luckily escaped with only minor injuries, but husband Lovell, then 24, suffered several fractures and brain trauma, leaving him unlikely to walk again.

Both of the defendants were in a “fury” when the parties encountered one another on the A2, the prosecution said.

Owen and Patrick had allegedly consumed 25 lagers between them before the incident.

A court heard the two families had not spoken for years after a rift developed between Hayley’s dad and his sister.

A week before the tragedy Hayley had reportedly had “a problem” with Owen’s sister at school.

Owen Maughan is on trial accused of the murder of Peter Maughan, causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to Lovell Mahon and attempting to cause GBH with intent to both Annarica Maughan and Hayley Maughan.

Patrick Maughan faces eight charges – murder and manslaughter in respect of Peter, causing the youngster’s death by dangerous driving, three offences in respect of Mr Mahon, and two of attempting to cause GBH with intent to Annarica and Hayley Maughan.

Owen has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, as well as causing serious injury by dangerous driving and inflicting GBH in respect of Lovell Mahon.

The prosecution alleges that he used his truck as a weapon while being “actively encouraged” by his dad.

The trial continues.

"I’m going to ram them: " Driver's "angry phone call seconds before he killed boy, four, in horror crash"
Lovell may not be able to walk again, a court heardCredit: Cover Images
 

Mum tried to resuscitate dying son, four, after her cousins "rammed car and drove off with child's buggy stuck under chassis"
Peter could not be saved by medicsCredit: Cover Images