Driver killed Birmingham e-bike rider to 'teach him a lesson' court hears

A driver deliberately rammed and killed an e-bike rider in a hit-and-run collision in Birmingham to "teach him a lesson" for showboating and pulling wheelies in the street, a court heard.

Abdirahman Ibrahim, 20, is accused of murdering Liam Jones, 22, after chasing and twice crashing into the back of him on Moat Lane, in Stechford.

Liam suffered catastrophic injuries and died at the scene after being catapulted from the machine into a concrete post on August 1 last year. A court heard Ibrahim had hunted the electric bike rider down in his Seat Leon after being "wound up" by Liam and a pal doing wheelies.

It is alleged he took "umbrage" at Liam's showboating to "such an extent that he wanted to teach him a lesson." Ibrahim has previously admitted a charge of manslaughter but has denied murder at Birmingham Crown Court. 

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Opening the case, Phillip Bradley KC, prosecuting, said "This case concerns a fatal road collision which resulted in the death of a 22-year-old man called Liam Jones. At the time of the incident Liam was with a friend, Tayzhon Johnson, riding off road motorbikes along Moat Lane, Stechford. 

"The other vehicle involved was a Seat Leon. That was being driven by the defendant, who was then 19. This was no accident. At the time of the fatal collision the defendant clearly intended him really serious harm. His strategy was to take Liam Jones to the floor. His tactics involved ramming the back of Mr Jones's motorbike. He did this twice.

“On the first occasion Mr Jones managed to stay up right but on the second occasion the defendant increased his speed and Liam Jones was brought to the floor, as the defendant intended. Immediately following the impact Mr Jones was thrown from his motorbike and into a concrete post." 

Mr Bradley said Ibrahim could have been in no doubt that he had hit the victim because his vehicle ran over his bike dragging it along under the belly of the car. He said rather than stop to see what had happened or call for help the driver did a U turn before driving away.

Mr Phillips said emergency services were called and although Liam was still conscious when they arrived, he died at the scene shortly afterwards. The court heard Liam would sometimes ride on the streets with his friend and had been near the Bull Ring shopping centre earlier that evening.  

By about 11.30pm, concerned that their bikes might be running out of power, they had left the city along Coventry Road. Mr Bradley said it was at this point, they became aware of the Seat Leon. There was no interaction between the car and the bikers but Mr Johnson had a "weird" feeling and the impression it was following them.

Mr Bradley added: "What attracted the driver's interest? CCTV footage captured both bikes doing wheelies. You are going to have to consider the significance of that showboating. 

"You are going to have to consider whether the defendant took umbrage at Liam showboating and whether it wound him up. It wound him up to such an extent that he wanted to teach him a lesson."

He said despite their attempts to throw their pursuer off Ibrahim was able to make up the ground and again resumed his pursuit. Mr Bradley said that the first impact "propelled" Liam's' bike increasing its speed and  the other bike rider was able to get out of the way by riding into a park. 

He added: "It is reasonable to infer that like his friend Liam was trying to shake off the Seat Leon but you may feel that he was in a different position. The Seat Leon remained perilously close to him. By now, of course, both those vehicle were close to the junction with Vera Road. At this point the defendant's vehicle deliberately collided with Liam's bike." 

Ibrahim, of Yardley, Birmingham, denies murder. The trial continues.