A father and son allegedly consumed twenty-five beers before embarking on a violent road rage chase that culminated in a catastrophic crash, killing their four-year-old cousin, a court has been told. The tragic incident, which unfolded on the A2 motorway in Kent, has led to murder charges being brought against the two men.
Drinking Session Preceded Deadly Pursuit
Owen Maughan, aged twenty-seven, and his father Patrick Maughan, fifty-four, are accused of the murder of young Peter Maughan, who lost his life on the first of June last year. The court heard that the pair had been drinking heavily at the Jolly Knight pub and the City Wall wine bar located in Rochester, Kent. Prosecutors detailed that Owen consumed approximately twelve bottles of beer, while Patrick downed roughly thirteen, totalling an astonishing twenty-five beers between them before they took to the roads.
Family Vehicle Targeted in Motorway Fury
Following their drinking session, the father and son from Darenth in Kent embarked on a journey along the A2 motorway. During this drive, they encountered Owen's cousin, Hayley, who was travelling in a second pick-up truck with her partner, Lovell Mahon, at the wheel. Also present in the vehicle were Hayley and Mr Mahon's two young children: four-year-old Peter and his then one-year-old sister, Annarica Maughan.
Prosecutor Richard Jory KC informed the jury at Maidstone Crown Court that, for reasons which remain unclear, Owen and Patrick became intensely angry. This fury was seemingly directed towards the occupants of the family's vehicle. As the father and son shouted abuse, Owen's driving reportedly became erratic, initiating a chase that spanned several miles down the busy A2 motorway.
Desperate Pleas and a Fatal Collision
Hayley, fearing for her family's safety, filmed video clips of the pursuing pair and left a voice note for her mother, Erica, expressing her terror. Mr Jory described how both pick-up trucks exited the A2 at Pepper Hill near Northfleet, with Owen and Patrick appearing to be in a state of uncontrollable fury. While on the slip road, Mr Mahon attempted to defuse the situation by shouting that there were children in the car and offering to resolve matters at the Maughans' house.
The chase, however, continued relentlessly. Jurors were told that Owen called Hayley's brother, Jason, during the pursuit to declare his intention to ram the other truck. In a devastating manoeuvre, Owen drove into the wrong lane and clipped the back of the family's vehicle at a speed of sixty miles per hour. The impact caused the truck to roll over, resulting in the tragic death of young Peter Maughan.
Aftermath and Legal Proceedings
Following the collision, Patrick and Owen Maughan drove away from the scene, pausing only for Patrick to remove the registration plate from their truck in an apparent attempt to evade identification. The prosecution has described the case as slightly unusual but maintains that it constitutes murder, a charge which both defendants have denied.
Owen Maughan has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Peter Maughan, as well as to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and inflicting grievous bodily harm upon Mr Mahon. Through this plea, he accepts that he deliberately rammed the other vehicle and drove dangerously, though he disputes any intent to cause injury to the occupants.
Patrick Maughan, meanwhile, disputes allegations that he encouraged or assisted his son during the incident. Mr Jory emphasised that the central issue in the case will be determining the pair's state of mind at the time of the fatal chase and crash. The trial continues as the court seeks to unravel the full circumstances of this heartbreaking event that has torn a family apart.
