A callous driver who mowed down a 'uniquely talented' headteacher as he cycled home from school then dragged him to his death beneath a two-ton SUV has been convicted of his murder.
Simon Richardson, 35, who had just been released from prison, was described by witnesses as 'tanking it' as he sped through a junction in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, on April 20 in a Volvo XC90.
However, it ploughed into Michael Mullins, 56, who was riding home from Stretford Grammar School where he had been a 'brilliant' and 'transformative' leader for 17 years, trapping him beneath the wheels.
Instead of stopping, Richardson pressed on 'regardless' for more than a mile at up to 60mph, with Mr Mullins still under the car, inflicting further catastrophic injuries on the married father-of-two.
He even 'veered sharply and deliberately from side to side' to try to dislodge Mr Mullins, a court heard.
The teacher was finally thrown clear when the car mounted a grass verge on a country lane before being driven over again by Richardson.
Leaving Mr Mullins dying at the roadside, he stopped to fill his dented car up with fuel and collect weight-loss medication for his cousin, who was in the passenger seat.
Witnesses who were alerted by a 'trail of blood' in the road went to help Mr Mullins, who was still breathing.
Paying tribute after the verdict, married father-of-two Mr Mullins' family described him as 'an anchor', 'the perfect dad' and 'our everything' by his family.
Michael Mullins, 56, was cycling home from work at Stretford Grammar School when he was dragged underneath Simon Richardson's car for more than one mile
The dented Volvo, pictured moments after the crash, shows Simon Richardson behind the wheel, with the driver's window rolled down
Simon Richardson, 35, who has been found guilty of headteacher Michael Mullins' murder
But he was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.50pm, about 40 minutes after he was knocked off his bike.
Richardson switched the Volvo for a van, but was arrested the next day following a brief pursuit after his cousin contacted police.
Today, after deliberating for around 11 hours, a jury at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester convicted Richardson of murder and dangerous driving.
Their verdict was greeted with gasps of 'Yes!' from the public gallery, where relatives and friends of Mr Mullins hugged and sobbed.
Richardson will be sentenced on Monday, but the judge, Mrs Justice Brunner, told him: 'There's only one sentence which I can pass and it's a life sentence. It comes to me to determine the length of term.'
Richardson showed no emotion as he was led away to the cells.
At the time of the tragedy, Richardson had been 'couch-surfing' with friends and relatives after being released from prison.
Shortly after 6pm on April 20, Mr Mullins – who is said to have been fit – was riding the 19-mile journey to his home near Northwich, Cheshire, when he was knocked off his bike by Richardson.
The stricken headteacher was found on a grass verge 1.3 miles away in Lymm, Cheshire, where Andrew Besant-Roberts was first to the scene, alerted by a 'trail of blood... weaving' along the road for 200 yards.
'Then I saw a cyclist on a grass verge who appeared to be in a position similar to the recovery position,' he told the court.
'He was laid on his side unconscious, but I could see he was still breathing.'
Mr Mullins, pictured with his children, was treated by paramedics but was declared dead at the roadside 40 minutes after the collision, jurors were told
A hooded Richardson caught on CCTV filling up with fuel shortly after leaving Mr Mullins dying by the roadside
Mr Besant-Roberts called 999, but despite carrying out chest compressions and then being helped by a paramedic who arrived shortly after, Mr Mullins was declared dead at the scene.
Analysis of his Apple watch showed that a heart beat was still being recorded when he was flung out from under the car.
Doctors confirmed that he survived the initial impact but suffered fatal injuries caused when Richardson continued to drive with him beneath the car.
Richardson's cousin, Gabrielle Debotte, 27, who was in the front passenger seat, told the court that the incident left her 'shocked' and 'scared'.
She said that in the moments prior to the collision she had told him to 'slow down', but he smirked and said: 'I'm a professional driver.'
As the Volvo approached a junction she desperately shouted 'bike' three times because she noticed Richardson 'wasn't stopping', she added.
After hitting Mr Mullins she said Richardson drove off in an 'erratic' manner as 'moaning' sounds could be heard from beneath the vehicle.
Richardson caught on camera overtaking a car shortly before he hit Mr Mullins
An image from dashcam footage shown to jurors of a police pursuit of the defendant driving a silver Ford Transit van in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, the following day
Richardson did not give evidence in his own defence.
But cross-examining Ms Debotte, Jaime Hamilton KC, defending, said Richardson denied getting out of the vehicle or trying to pull Mr Mullins clear.
However, she denied changing her account to avoid getting 'in trouble' herself.
She put her failure to call 999 that evening down to 'shock' and having 'never been' in a situation like that.
Ms Debotte 'broke down' at the nursery where she worked the next day and told staff what had happened before going to police, jurors heard.
After the verdict, Mr Mullins' family told how his death has left them 'torn apart' and gave a series of glowing tributes.
His wife said: 'My past, present and future have been brutally and callously torn apart. My memories of being with Michael through the rough and the smooth are now permanently tainted with sadness.
'Michael is irreplaceable to family, friends and the school. There is no one quite like him with his myriad of unique qualities that combined to make him mean so much to so many people.
'I am, we are, completely bereft and adrift without our anchor, Michael Mullins.'
Newly-released picture of Michael Mullins, issued by his family after trial verdict
Mr Mullins' heartbroken widow said her life has been 'torn apart' while his children told how he would support and encourage them
Mr Mullins' grown-up children described him as a kindly father who would encourage them with sport and music, and support them into adulthood.
His son said: 'He was the type of Dad that would show up to everything. He would drive me to every rugby game on a Sunday and was always there to cheer me on from the sidelines with the same sentiment continuing into my adult life where he would constantly remind of how proud he was of me.
'Our last exchange of words together before he dropped me at the station was him reminding me of how proud he was of me.'
Michael's daughter said: 'My dad, Michael, was so many things, He loved music and was learning to play the guitar. He loved to pick us up from the airport after a holiday to be the first to hear about it and growing up would always offer to pick me and my friends up from concerts to make sure we got home.
'I made a promise in those first days that I would live the rest of my life for my dad and give myself the life he had started to see me grow into and wanted for me.
'I am here telling you all that my Dad was and always will be our everything.'
Speaking outside court, DS Tricia Solomon, of Greater Manchester Police, paid tribute to Mr Mullins as a 'man who was kind and caring' - and 'beloved in his community, his school, by his family and friends.'
DS Solomon added he was 'a man who should have come home safe and sound to his family but who will be remembered for ever for the legacy he's left behind.'
She also praised his family for their 'courage', along with the people who tried to find him at the roadside after the collision.
The detective said: 'Richardson chose to take Michael's life in one of the most horrific ways I've ever seen
'I hope his family and friends will find some of sort of justice knowing Richardson has been found guilty.'
DS Solomon added: 'No family should have go through the pain of losing a loved one in such a traumatic way.
'They have had to listen to what happened to their beloved Michael and how cowardly Simon Richardson's actions were.
'To go through what they've experienced is unimaginable and I know it's caused a great deal of pain to all those who knew him.'
She also said: 'I would like to thank the people that stopped and tried to help Michael on that April evening, who couldn't have imagined what happened to him or where he was.
'Yet you searched all around to try and find him to do what you could in his final moments.'
The words were greeted with a round of applause by his family and supporters who'd gathered outside.
Rebecca Macaulay-Addison, Specialist Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service in the North West, said: 'Michael Mullins should still be here with his family. Simon Richardson's actions have robbed them of a future together.
'We were determined to secure justice for Mr Mullins's family, and the jury's verdict holds Richardson accountable for taking his life.
'No verdict can bring Mr Mullins back or ease the pain of his family, the Stretford Grammar School community and the pupils he taught. My thoughts remain with them all as they come to terms with his loss.'
Following his death, Mr Mullins' family paid tribute to him as a 'loving Dad, husband, brother-in-law, 'Diddy', uncle, son-in-law'.
'A gap has been left in our hearts and within his role as a headteacher of Stretford Grammar School,' they added.
'He was devoted to his family, and our lives will never be the same.
'Our Dad gave us fantastic memories growing up, including a trip getting lost at night around Washington DC. But it was in his role as a grandad where he truly excelled.
'Our love and memories of Michael will know no limits.
'We will love him for ever, to Saturn and beyond.'
Meanwhile, Stretford Grammar School said it was mourning a 'uniquely talented headteacher and a man of unshakeable principles' who would be remembered for his 'quietly brilliant' leadership and 'transformative' vision.
In a glowing tribute it described Mr Mullins as 'a compassionate leader, and a source of unwavering support for students and staff alike'.
Richardson, formerly of Sale, Greater Manchester, had denied murder and an alternative count of manslaughter, as well as a charge of dangerous driving linked to the police pursuit of his van the day after Mr Mullins was killed.