Father-of-two, 25, murdered in hit-and-run was dragged for half a mile under a car after an argument with two men outside a pub, court hears
- Liam Dent died after being dragged half-a-mile under car, the Old Bailey heard
- Dent, 25, had earlier been in argument with Martin Eastwood and Daniel Morris
- Eastwood, 20, the alleged driver of car, and Morris, 21, charged with his murder
- Jasmine Robinson, 18, of Epsom, Surrey, is charged with assisting an offender
A father-of-two was killed after he was dragged screaming for half a mile under a car after a row outside a pub, a court heard today.
Liam Dent, 25, was trapped beneath the wheels of a Ford S-Max allegedly driven by 20-year-old Martin Eastwood in Chessington, Surrey, on July 26 last year.
Dent was said to be ‘screaming’ as he was dragged under the car before his body was dislodged by another car, driven by Eastwood’s friend, the Old Bailey heard.
Prosecutors say the Ford was later found burnt out near to the scene.
The court heard that Eastwood and 21-year-old Daniel Morris, both of whom are charged with Mr Dent’s murder, had earlier become involved in an argument with him outside The Lucky Rover pub in Chessington.
Liam Dent (pictured), 25, was trapped beneath the wheels of a Ford S-Max allegedly driven by 20-year-old Martin Eastwood in Chessington, Surrey, on July 26 last year
The court heard the incident followed a row between Dent, Eastwood and his friend Daniel Morris outside The Lucky Rover in Chessington
Dent was said to be ‘screaming’ as he was dragged for half-a-mile under the car, before his body dislodged by another car, driven by a friend, the Old Bailey heard. Pictured: Police forensic teams at the scene of the incident
Prosecutors say the Ford S Max allegedly used in the incident was then found burnt out near to the scene
The pair left briefly but returned in two cars, it was said. Eastwood was driving the Ford while Morris was in a BMW, the court heard.
Judge Anthony Leonard said: ‘The cars stopped and there was a verbal exchange and one of the two cars moved forward.
‘The person who went under the car was Mr Dent. There is evidence to suggest that the drivers of both cars were aware they were dragging a body. One of the cars was used to dislodge the body.’
Michelle Nelson, QC, prosecuting, said: ‘Liam Dent went underneath the car and was dragged half a mile under the car. Liam Dent was alive, he was screaming and the two cars stopped.
‘The three occupants got out of the car and began to look at the base of the Ford S-Max before getting back in and driving off. Liam Dent’s body was dislodged and left in the road.’
Police officers later found the Ford burnt out near to the scene. Eastwood and Morris, both of no fixed address, are both charged with murder.
Police forensic teams on Moor Lane in Chessington following the incident on July 26, 2019
Eastwood and Morris, both of no fixed address, are both charged with murder and are next due at the Old Bailey in London in January next year
A third defendant Jasmine Robinson, 18, of Epsom, Surrey, is accused of assisting an offender.
She allegedly bought a train ticket under a false name for Eastwood to take him to his old hometown of Sheffield.
Robinson was granted bail while Eastwood and Morris were remanded in custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing at the Old Bailey on 15 January 2021.
Mr Dent was setting up a mobile Caribbean street food business called Pull Up, Fill Up at the time of his death.