A driver who used a Volvo estate to kill his victim in a row over just £20 was today/WEDS jailed for life for murder.
William McDonagh, 53, crushed Robert Duggan under the wheels of the car and dragged him along Axe Close on the Marsh Farm estate in Luton.
Mr Duggan, 60, suffered catastrophic injuries and, despite the efforts of paramedics, was pronounced dead at the scene, Luton Crown Court heard.
The jury convicted McDonagh, of Verulam Gardens, Luton, of murder. They had been told he had pleaded guilty to causing Mr Duggan’s death by dangerous driving on the morning of Saturday, June 11, 2022.
Judge Martyn Zeidman KC passed a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years.
The prosecutor Stuart Trimmer KC said McDonagh had gone to Mr Duggan’s flat in Axe Close and tried to barge his way in. His daughter pushed him out, ripping the side of his black jacket.
McDonagh was said to be drunk and talked about being owed £20.
Mr Duggan is said to have told his daughter he did not owe £20 and questioned why he (McDonagh) was coming back after three years.
The prosecutor said that William McDonagh went to a nearby Nisa shop and bought a bottle of Bells whisky. He then smashed Mr Duggan’s living room window and tried to kick the door in.
The victim came outside and used his crutch to try to knock two screwdrivers from the hands of William McDonagh, the jury heard.
William McDonagh left but returned driving at speed into the close in the stolen Volvo car, which had false number plates.
CCTV played to the jury showed Mr Duggan and his daughter fall over as they are startled by the car before it knocks over a wheelie bin and strikes Mr Duggan.
Mr Trimmer said: “The defendant comes back round again and stops to observe what he had done and then drives off.”
He said he had turned the wheels deliberately to run him over.
Mr Trimmer said: “If you drive a car at someone and drive over them you intend either to kill them or cause really serious harm.
“The victim was killed by defendant as if he had shot or stabbed him. The method he used was a large Swedish car.
William McDonagh was arrested later and made no comment to police questions.
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