Ashfield murder trial: Man who died in fatal crash had 'threatened defendant with the Irish mafia'

Giving evidence in his own defence, John Jefferies told the jury at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, March 9, that he’d also had an altercation with another man earlier in the day, and then gone on a family outing to Gulliver’s Kingdom, in Matlock, prior to the fatal collision.

It is alleged that Jefferies deliberately drove at the two men as an “act of revenge” after one of them kicked in the windscreen of his Range Rover, which had been parked outside his girlfriend’s house, and shouted threats at him.

Samuel Donner, 29, died at the scene of the collision, on Southwell Lane, Kirkby, on Saturday, August 8 last year, after fracturing his skull and suffering bleeding to his brain and damage to his spinal column.

A second man, Conna Ross, survived but suffered an open fracture to his lower leg and a laceration to the scalp.

Jefferies, 31, formerly of Walesby Drive, Kirkby, denies the murder of Mr Donner, and charges of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent against Mr Ross.

But he has admitted charges of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.

Before the incident, Mr Donner had climbed onto Jefferies’ Range Rover and kicked in the windscreen and neighbours described hearing him shouting at the defendant.

The court heard that Jefferies had made a series of calls following the collision, first to his former partner, asking her to come and collect their daughter, who was staying with him at the time.

Describing the moment he confronted Mr Donner, Jefferies told the court: “He said that I was gone, that I was dead. He said he had friends in the Irish mafia, the mob, and they were coming for me.

“I was scared for the kids, for myself, and for my partner. He mentioned my former partner and said he knew how I used to treat her.

“The other man just stood there. I saw them walking off and I told my partner to stay inside and lock the door and I was going to find out what it was all about. I thought they might come back because of the threats they had made.”

Jefferies then described turning into Southwell Lane and attempting to pull into a layby in front of them, but the court was shown CCTV footage of his vehicle taking a 30 degree turn across the road and ploughing into the two men.

Earlier in the trial, the jury was told that, following the collision, Jefferies had fled the scene in his work van and met up with his brother at Pinxton Bridge.

He had then been joined by his daughter and other family members at King’s Mill Reservoir before being driven to the home of another relative, where he handed himself into police.

Prosecuting, Mary Prior QC told him: “You intended to use your vehicle as a weapon. You told police you intended to use your vehicle to frighten them. You were going to put the fear of God into them.”

The trial continues.

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