Car used to kill woman outside takeaway was found dumped outside flats the next day, court told
A car that driven into a group of young people outside an Oswestry takeaway, killing a young woman, was later found dumped outside a block of flats with damage consistent with having hit a pedestrian, a court has heard.
Stafford Crown Court was told on Friday that the car belonging to Stephen McHugh, accused of the murder of 22-year-old Rebecca Steer, was found the day after the incident.
McHugh, 28, of Artillery Road, Park Hall, has admitted killing Miss Steer after she was hit by his gold Volvo in Willow Street, Oswestry, in the early hours of October 9 last year, but he has denied murder.
Miss Steer, of Llanymynech, Wales, was struck outside the Grill Out takeaway in the town centre shortly before 3am. A second pedestrian, Kyle Roberts, was seriously injured.
Sitting before Mr Justice Andrew Baker on Friday, the jury heard from a West Mercia Police expert on collision investigation who said McHugh's 2-litre, turbocharged 2006 Volvo S60 was found outside Harlech Court in Oswestry.
Pc Christopher Duffner said the car showed signs of having "been in contact with a pedestrian", including dents to the bonnet, a cracked number plate and a missing headlight component.
Pc Duffner added that various pieces of plastic and a fragment from a headlight component were found at the Willow Street scene, along with "tyre scuff" marks on the kerb outside Grill Out that he had described as "fresh".
The court was also shown CCTV of the gold Volvo mounting the pavement and hitting the group outside the Grill Out takeaway before speeding off.
McHugh has admitted manslaughter and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but denies murder and causing grievous bodily harm. The trial continues.
