Key Points
- 35-year-old Simon Richardson has been found guilty of killing headmaster Michael Mullins, 56, at the Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.
- Mr Mullins was cycling back home from Stretford Grammar School when he was hit by the black Volvo XC90 driven by Richardson on 20th April, in Warburton.
- The accident took place at about 6.10pm on Paddock Lane, near the intersection of Warburton Lane and Dunham Road.
- The prosecutors claimed that Mr Mullins was trapped under the car and dragged for 2.2 kilometers or more than a mile, before being dumped on the grass verge of Wet Gate Lane, Lymm.
- The victim was pronounced dead at 6.50pm, around 40 minutes after the accident.
- Richardson was also found guilty of dangerous driving in connection with a police chase on 21st April, the day after Mr Mullins’ death.
- Richardson was charged with murder, manslaughter in the alternative and dangerous driving and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
- It took 11 hours for the jury to reach their verdicts on 30th October.
- The judge, Mrs Justice Brunner KC, stated that murder comes with a life sentence, and Richardson will be sentenced on Monday, 2nd November.
Altrincham (Manchester Mirror) October 30, 2026 — A driver has been found guilty of murdering Stretford Grammar School headteacher Michael Mullins after a collision in which the cyclist was struck and dragged beneath a car. Simon Richardson, 35, was convicted of murder and dangerous driving following a trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
As reported by Altrincham Today News, the verdicts were returned on the morning of 30 October after the jury considered the evidence. Richardson had denied murder, an alternative count of manslaughter, and dangerous driving.
The BBC reported that Richardson will return to Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court for sentencing on Monday. It also reported that Mrs Justice Brunner KC told him there was only one sentence available for murder: life imprisonment.
How Did Michael Mullins Die?
Mr Mullins, 56, was cycling home from Stretford Grammar School on 20 April when Richardson’s black Volvo XC90 struck him at a junction in Warburton. The collision happened at about 6.10pm on Paddock Lane, close to the junction with Warburton Lane and Dunham Road.
During the trial, the court heard that Richardson drove through give-way markings before hitting Mr Mullins, who became trapped beneath the vehicle. According to Altrincham Today News, Mr Mullins was dragged for 2.2 kilometres before being left on a grass verge in Wet Gate Lane in Lymm.
Prosecutors said Richardson knew Mr Mullins was underneath the car but continued driving. As reported by ITV Granada’s Tim Scott, the prosecution argued during the trial that Richardson knew Mr Mullins was trapped, injured and alive beneath the wheels for a significant part of the journey.
What Evidence Was Heard in Court?
Richardson’s cousin and front-seat passenger, Gabrielle Debotte, told jurors that they heard moaning after the collision. She said Richardson later stopped in a country lane and twice got out of the vehicle to try to remove Mr Mullins before driving erratically.
The defence disputed her account. It maintained that Richardson had not realised the cyclist was trapped beneath his car until Mr Mullins was dislodged. Richardson chose not to give evidence.
A witness followed a trail of blood and found Mr Mullins still breathing on the verge. Emergency services attended, but he was pronounced dead at 6.50pm, approximately 40 minutes after the collision.
The BBC reported that prosecutors claimed Richardson fled the initial crash scene before stopping to try to dislodge the injured cyclist and then driving on while Mr Mullins remained lodged underneath the vehicle.
What Was the Dangerous Driving Charge?
The separate dangerous-driving charge related to a police pursuit on 21 April, the day after Mr Mullins’s death. Richardson denied that offence, as well as murder and the alternative manslaughter charge.
The Independent reported that Richardson, of no fixed address, was found guilty of the dangerous-driving allegation after a police pursuit before his arrest. The Manchester Evening News reported that he previously resided on Epsom Avenue in Sale and pleaded not guilty to all three charges.
Who Was Michael Mullins?
Mr Mullins, from Weaverham in Northwich, had been headteacher of Stretford Grammar School since 2009. Before that, he served as deputy headteacher at Sale Grammar.
The Warrington Guardian reported that he had been headteacher for 17 years at the time of his death. The school closed for a day after his death, and deputy headteacher Liz Baxter paid tribute to his dedication and pledged that staff would continue his legacy.
In a statement released in April, Mr Mullins’s family said:
“He was devoted to his family, and our lives will never be the same.”
What Happens Next?
Richardson is due to be sentenced on Monday, 2 November. The BBC reported that the judge stated that murder carries a mandatory life sentence, with the judge to determine the minimum term.
The Daily Mail reported that the jury deliberated for around 11 hours before convicting Richardson, and that relatives and friends of Mr Mullins reacted emotionally in the public gallery. ITV Granada also confirmed the sentencing date as 2 November.
Background of the Development
The case began on 20 April, when Mr Mullins was struck while cycling home from Stretford Grammar School in Trafford. Richardson’s Volvo XC90 hit him at a Warburton junction, and prosecutors alleged that Mr Mullins was then dragged beneath the car for more than a mile before coming loose in Lymm.
Richardson was arrested on 21 April after a police pursuit. The BBC reported that the vehicle allegedly travelled at speeds of more than 60mph while Mr Mullins was trapped underneath, before he came loose on a country lane.
At trial, the defence argued that Richardson was responsible for the death but had not intended to kill or seriously injure Mr Mullins. As reported by the BBC, the defence said the prosecution’s decision to pursue murder and manslaughter meant the jury could not consider lesser driving-related homicide offences.
Prediction: How This Affects the Local Community
For pupils, staff and families connected with Stretford Grammar School, the conviction is likely to bring a formal legal conclusion to a case that has affected the school community since April. The school had already closed for a day after Mr Mullins’s death, and staff publicly committed to continuing his legacy.
For cyclists and residents in Warburton, Lymm and surrounding areas, the case may renew attention on road safety at rural junctions and the risks faced by cyclists on routes used for commuting. The collision occurred at a junction with give-way markings, according to evidence heard at trial.
For the wider Trafford and Cheshire communities, sentencing on 2 November will establish the minimum prison term Richardson must serve. The conviction also confirms that the court accepted the prosecution’s account that Richardson knew Mr Mullins was beneath the vehicle and continued driving.
