THIS is the moment a topless dad was arrested in bed over the alleged murder of a four-year-old boy in a crash, a court heard.
Owen Maughan, 27, allegedly downed 25 beers at a pub with dad Patrick Maughan before murdering little Peter in the crash in Dartford, Kent.
Jurors heard Owen, who was behind the wheel of a Ford Ranger pick-up truck, saw his cousin Hayley Maughan being driven by her partner Lovell Mahon.
The couple’s children Peter, four, and one-year-old Annarica Maughan were also in the vehicle at the time.
Maidstone Crown Court was told for “reasons that weren’t and aren’t clear”, Owen and Patrick began pursuing the family “in a fury”.
Owen then allegedly clipped Lovell’s pick-up at 60mph – causing it to flip on the A2 and Peter to be flung from the car.
Footage played to jurors shows the moment Patrick was arrested at home in Maidenhead, Berkshire.
He can be seen lying topless under a floral duvet in bed as officers enter his room.
Patrick nodded as he was told he was being arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
When asked if he has any belongings including a mobile, he replied: “I haven’t got a phone.”
But jurors heard officers later found one in a kitchen, which they have still been unable to access.
The court was also told Patrick was “very obviously drunk”, with his breath smelling “very strongly” of intoxicants.
When asked how much he had had to drink, he told them: “A lot.”
In his police interview, Patrick told officers he was “simply a passenger” in his son’s car and it was his “intention to go home”.
Owen Maughan was arrested the day after the crash when he to Medway police station with his mum and handed himself in, it was said.
Jurors heard previously how Owen and his dad had been at two pubs in Rochester, Kent, before they came across the family in June last year.
The court heard that as the dad and son hurled abuse, Owen’s driving became more erratic.
Hayley filmed video clips of the pair chasing them and left a voice note for her mother Erica saying she was afraid.
As both pick-up trucks left the A2, the court heard both Owen and Patrick were still “in a fury” and “very angry at the occupants of Lovell’s vehicle.”
Jurors were told Lovell tried to signal there were children in the car and offered to go to the Maughans’ house to resolve the situation.
But the plea was ignored by Owen, who had called Hayley’s brother Jason on the phone to say that he was going to ram the other truck, it is alleged.
The court heard he then drove into the wrong lane and clipped the back of the car at 60mph – causing it to roll over.
Jurors were told Hayley had checked the back seat following the crash but her son was not inside the vehicle.
She then found the tragic youngster face down in some grass and screamed for help.
Peter suffered severe and devastating injuries” to his head, chest and abdomen leaving him no chance of survival.
Lovell had serious injuries including a skull fracture and it is unlikely he will walk again, jurors were told.
After the crash, Patrick and Owen Maughan drove off – only pausing for the dad to allegedly pull the registration plate off the truck.
In her police interview, Hayley said: “They chased us. We were in fear for our life. We begged them. We told them that the children was in the motor.
“I knew he was gonna do it. You’re not stupid… you’re in fear for your life. You’ve got that gut feeling, don’t you?”
Asked why she was in fear for their lives, she said because Patrick and Owen kept following them and it was a “mother’s instinct” when your children are in the car you think “we’re gonna be in a car crash”.
Also asked if she believed it was deliberate or accidental, the mum added: “This is a terrible accident what happened, but it’s not an accident – it’s deliberate.”
Owen has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Lovell.
Patrick disputes encouraging or assisting his son – with the main issue in the case being their state of mind at the time of the incident, jurors heard.
The trial continues.
