Driver found not guilty of murdering mother who was knocked off e-bike
A driver has been acquitted of murdering a mother-of-one who died on a country lane after she was knocked off the back of an electric motorbike ridden by her boyfriend.
Keaton Muldoon, 23, was alleged to have murdered 25-year-old Alana Armstrong – who died at the scene in Batley Lane, Pleasley, Derbyshire – but was found not guilty by a jury at Derby Crown Court on Thursday, the court said.
He was also cleared of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Ms Armstrong's boyfriend Jordan Newton-Kay, who had his right leg amputated 15cm above the knee after the crash.
Muldoon, of Tuckers Lane, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving before his trial began in May.
His sentencing date has not been fixed by the court.
Muldoon, who the court heard was a drug dealer, told the jury of 11 women and one man on Tuesday that he 'did not know' he had hit anyone while driving his Land Rover Discovery on the evening of November 26 last year, and thought he had overtaken Mr Newton-Kay's bike at a passing point.
The prosecution alleged that Muldoon 'pursued' the couple, and another electric bike ridden by a friend of Mr Newton-Kay, after they stopped near the defendant's 4×4 at a lay-by.
The defendant told the court he feared he was going to be robbed but did not 'chase' the Sur-Ron off-road bike for more than a mile from the lay-by in Sampsons Lane, Pleasley.
Muldoon, who was father to a newborn baby at the time of the collision, told the court he lied to police that his uncle had possession of the Land Rover at the time of the collision because he was 'scared' about the murder investigation.
He told the jury earlier this week: 'My head was all over, I didn't know what to think.
'I knew I wasn't going to see my children for a bit. I just had a newborn baby. I promised I would always be there.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Three men guilty of repeatedly raping 12-year-old girl over three days
Three men are facing jail after being found guilty of rape after drugging a young girl and 'using her for their own horrendous gratification' over multiple days. Kevin Horvath, 26, and Ivan Turtak, 38, saw the 12-year-old victim in a supermarket car park in Dover and encouraged her to get in their car on August 11 2024, a Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesperson said. She was then plied with drugs including crystal meth and amphetamine before she was raped and subjected to sexual acts by them and a third man, Ernest Gunar, 27, over a three-day period. The girl managed to escape from her captors after waking up before them on August 13. On Thursday, jurors at Canterbury Crown Court found the three men guilty of a series of sexual offences including rape of a 12-year-old girl after over 14 hours of deliberation. After trial, Gunar was convicted of two counts of rape against a child under 13; Turtak was convicted of one count; and Horvath was convicted of sexual assault. Horvath had already admitted three counts of rape against a child under 13, and one charge of assault by penetration of a child under 13, and Gunar, who is thought to be his cousin, had also admitted one charge of rape. Turtak initially denied rape but did admit taking indecent photos of a child. During the three-day period, whenever they went out in public, the girl was told that she would be killed if she tried to talk to anyone or tried to run away, a CPS spokesperson said. She was found by police on August 13 after escaping from the three men. Her phone had been taken from her and was later found in Horvath's car. Senior Crown Prosecutor Catherine Wear said: 'The three defendants took a 12-year-old from the street, took full advantage of her, plying her with drugs and using her for their own horrendous gratification. 'None of us can underestimate the impact this has had on her. When she was first found by police, she was unable to tell them what she had been put through, as she was so scared, and the details only came out gradually after that. 'Thanks to her courage in detailing what happened to her, despite the obvious distress that caused her, these three dangerous men have now been brought to justice for the appalling and callous crimes they committed against her. 'We hope these verdicts bring some small comfort to her as she starts to rebuild her life.' Horvath and Turtak, of Dover, along with Gunar, of Folkestone, will be sentenced on September 12.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Police issue appeal five years after double murder at lockdown party
Murder squad detectives have made a fresh appeal for information on the fifth anniversary of a double killing at a lockdown party. Cheriff Tall, 21, and father of three Abayomi 'Junior' Ajose, 36, were shot dead at a 'spontaneous' party attended by 400 people in Moss Side, Manchester, in the early hours of June 21 2020. The event, with a DJ and PA system, took place in a car park in the middle of a block of flats hours after a Black Lives Matter protest. Detectives are appealing for information if witnesses know or saw someone there who was wearing a black Icon cap with a white logo and a white Nike Air T-shirt with a small black logo over the left side of the chest. A £50,000 reward remains available for key information that leads to the discovery and conviction of the killer, who police believe is from Birmingham. Detective Chief Inspector Neil Higginson, from Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) Major Incident Team, said: 'This year marks five years since Cheriff and Junior went out to a party but sadly never returned home to their loved ones. Their families have been left devastated by their loss, and they deserve justice. 'We will never be able to bring back their beloved Cheriff and Junior, but we can see that their killer is brought to justice. We need members of the community to get in touch and help us with some key information. 'There were hundreds of people in the car park that night and we are sure that there are people who saw the incident, even if it was just part of it. 'However, there has been a reluctance for witnesses to come forward with information. 'I understand that people might be scared, and that is normal given what has happened, but there is a range of measures that we can put in place to keep witnesses safe. 'Evidence can be given on video or behind a screen. It could also be that we could apply to the courts for the witness to be anonymous if there are grounds to do so. 'I'd just ask for you to come forward and we can have an honest chat about what we can do, as you don't have to commit to giving a statement in the first instance. 'The person responsible for these murders we believe is from Birmingham. He is not a member of the local Moss Side community, and he should not be protected. 'Anyone who comes forward in this case is not a 'grass' for helping the police, they are simply doing what is right for two families who have had their loved ones taken from them in awful circumstances. No one deserves that. 'When we have worked together in the past, we have achieved great results and if we work together again, we can get justice for Cheriff and Junior. It's not too late to do the right thing.' Anyone with information, however small or insignificant, should contact GMP in confidence on 0161 856 2035, quoting incident number 221 of 21/06/20. Alternatively, reports can be made in confidence to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Information, including pictures and videos, can be uploaded anonymously to the Major Incident Public Portal for Operation Tarnbrook at
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tragedy as man, 20, dies after 'getting into difficulty' in river Tees at Gainford
A body has been pulled from the River Tees after a 20-year-old man got into difficulty in the water on Friday afternoon, police said. It is thought the man entered the water in Gainford, County Durham when he got into difficulty, sparking a huge emergency response. The air ambulance, mountain rescue crews, police helicopter, paramedics and fire crews all rushed to the rural village at about 2.30pm on Friday (June 20) as a major search operation got underway. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Police confirmed a body was found in the river later on Friday evening. Identification has not taken place but the man's family has been informed. Durham Police said in a statement: 'We're sorry to report that a body has been found in the river at Gainford this evening. 'It is believed a 20-year-old man had entered the water this afternoon and got into difficulty. The River Tees downstream at Piercebridge. (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT) 'Formal identification has yet to take place but the man's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. 'We would like to thank all our emergency services partners for their assistance.' It came one of the hottest days of the year so far as the region baked in a summer heatwave. Read next: Latest pictures after river incident sparks major emergency service response What we know so far as major emergency response underway after river incident Emergency crews swarm County Durham village amid fear for man in river lick here to join our WhatsApp community and get breaking news updates direct to your phone. The air ambulance at the scene. (Image: GNAAS) The police helicopter was seen circling over land near the Tees earlier with the air ambulance also coming in to land. Police cordoned off an area where ambulance incident response teams and the fire service water unit parked up, blocking access to the river banks. Drones were seen in the air as part of the search with rescue workers using dogs in the area.
