A MAN who fatally knocked down a teenage motorcyclist sent his girlfriend a picture of his own face after the crash, telling her “this is the last time you will see me”, a court heard.

Defendant gives tearful testimony

Brandon Glover, 24, charged with murdering 17-year-old Harley Lea in the crash on Park Road, Blackbrook in the early hours of October 4, 2022, gave tearful testimony in the witness box at Liverpool Crown Court, as part of his defence.

The trial had previously heard that in the collision a Toyota Corolla “driven by the defendant” had allegedly “pursued” two motorbikes after Glover’s brother’s bike had been stolen from his mum’s home in Parr.

The Toyota hit a Benelli bike and then a Honda motorbike ridden by Harley Lea.

There were “serious injuries” caused to Jordan Carter and Louis Coleman, passengers on the Honda. Meanwhile, the Benelli was ridden by Alexander Owen, and carrying passenger Leeland Lea, both of whom “escaped injury” and “ran away”.

St Helens Star: Police at the scene after the crashPolice at the scene after the crash (Image: St Helens Star)

On Tuesday (March 21), the court heard that 24-year-old Glover was a “careful and considerate driver”, who drove around 120 miles a day across the north west for work.

When asked by defence barrister Stan Reiz KC about events on the night of the crash, Glover said he went to his family house after his brother Benjamin had contacted him to say his bike had been stolen. Glover said he was “interested in seeing how it (his brother’s bike) was taken because my mum’s car was parked in front of it”.

Glover claimed he “wasn’t very hopeful” in recovering the bike as “it is a recurring theme in the St Helens area that bikes would be stolen and joy-ridden”. He added “it didn’t matter if we didn’t, it was insured”. 

St Helens Star: Police on Park Road after the crash in the early hours of October 4 last yearPolice on Park Road after the crash in the early hours of October 4 last year (Image: Submitted)

The court heard Glover, with his brother as passenger, drove round an estate behind his mum’s house and around areas of Parr, and “first heard the noise of a motorbike” around the area of Gaskell Street.

Glover “drove closer” to the sound and travelled down Jackson Street “towards Fingerpost”.

READ > Suspects flee scene as police spot stolen bikes

It was said on Vernon Street that Glover came close to the Honda “which went straight past me”. Meanwhile, the Benelli “mounted” the pavement and “undertook” Glover.

It was said the bikes “went through bollards” and that Glover reversed up Vernon Street and came out on Atlas Street towards Pocket Nook Street.

Glover said “I could hear them” and he followed them down the road and on to Park Road.

The defendant said he had “a suspicion” that one of the bikes was his brother’s “because of the time of events”.

Glover added: “I wanted to see if it was his bike” and that “I picked up a lot of speed to catch up with the bikes”.

St Helens Star: A police cordon in place after the collisionA police cordon in place after the collision (Image: St Helens Star)

He said he believed he was travelling at around 40 mph at the time, rather than the speed of around 70 mph that the Toyota was being driven at.

Glover said: “My interpretation at the time was I wasn’t going as fast as I now know I was. I wasn’t looking at the speedometer, obviously there was a lot to contend with at that moment. I didn’t know I was going as fast as I was.” 

When asked if he had thought about stopping on Park Road, Glover said: “It did come into my head but I thought because we were getting closer to them, I thought I would like to just find out what I wanted to find out, whether it was his bike. “

Glover described the atmosphere in the car as “weirdly relaxed” and that his brother was “on his phone”.

The court heard that Glover’s break lights were seen to come on around 180 metres away from the bikes.

“I knew I had to slow down because I didn’t want to hit those two bikes,” he said.

“I was familiar with the road and I was conscious there was a bend to the left”.

Glover added: “There was a lot going on, I didn’t expect one of the bikes to slow down in front of me. I don’t know why it did that. I thought they were just going to zoom off.”

He said when he realised he was “getting closer” that he “started to hit the breaks”.

St Helens Star: A police cordon after the crash in BlackbrookA police cordon after the crash in Blackbrook (Image: St Helens Star)

Glover said he remembered “seeing red bolt cutters” just before the crash and added “I think I interpreted them as waving them at me but I can’t fully recall that”.

The defendant said after the impact with the Benelli the “air bags” came on and he “didn’t know” he had hit the second bike and that “I came to a stop and hit the barrier”.

Glover told police in an interview “I thought there might have been an object on the road” and “I now know it was the Benelli”.

Breaking into tears during his testimony, Glover said after seeing there was “another bike” and “someone in the middle of the road”, he was “in shock” after the crash.

He added: “I didn’t think it was real at that point”.

“Seeing something like that is so unnatural to see,” adding “I just shut down, it’s too much to deal with”.

St Helens Star: A police cordon at the sceneA police cordon at the scene (Image: St Helens Star)

The court heard Glover called 999 and when asked what went through his mind talking to the operator he said “It’s hard to describe, that you’re responsible for someone’s death on the phone”.

'This is the last time you will see me'

The court heard that in the aftermath of the crash Glover had “sent a picture” of his face to his girlfriend, with the comment “this is the last time you will see me”.

He explained that he had sent the message because “it started to dawn on me” that the police would not take what happened lightly.

St Helens Star: Balloons left at the scene after the crash in tribute to Harley LeaBalloons left at the scene after the crash in tribute to Harley Lea (Image: St Helens Star)

Cross-examining Glover, prosecuting barrister Andrew O’Byrne KC said the defendant had told police he had seen the “bolt cutters” earlier in Fingerpost and asked him was it his “impression they were taunting you?”

He put it to Glover that he had been trying to “gloss over” elements of what had happened.

Glover said: “At that time there was a lot going of things going on, it’s hard to remember exactly how and in what order”.

He added: “It was such a traumatic thing” and that “it’s not going to be a perfect recollection”.

St Helens Star: The trial continues at Liverpool Crown CourtThe trial continues at Liverpool Crown Court

Glover, of Pasture Close, Clock Face, denies charges of murdering Harley Lea, of manslaughter, of causing GBH with intent to Jordan Carter and to Louis Coleman, two counts of causing GBH without intent, and attempted GBH with intent to Alexander Owen and Leeland Lea.

Judge Nicholas Barker said all evidence had now been presented to jurors in the trial.

He added that directions would be given to the jury on Wednesday before the prosecution and defence make their closing statements.

The jury are expected to be sent out to deliberate at approximately Thursday morning.

The trial continues.

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