A teenager murdered a police officer by running him over in a stolen truck during a high-speed chase in a 'cowardly and merciless act', a court has heard.
Clayton Williams, 19, gave PC Dave Phillips 'no chance' as he struck him in a Mitsubishi 4x4 while the officer was laying down a 'Stop Stick' to end the pursuit, Manchester Crown Court was told.
The father-of-two was tossed into the air and suffered 'catastrophic' injuries before falling 'lifeless' onto the road after the crash in Wallasey, Merseyside, last October.
Williams has pleaded not guilty to the murder, claiming he did not intend to injure or kill the officer.
Clayton Williams, 19, (left) murdered PC Dave Phillips (right) by running him over in a stolen truck during a high-speed chase, a court has heard
The court heard that the 34-year-old officer was trying to stop the speeding truck with a tyre-puncturing device, also known as a 'stinger' when he was fatally hit.
Prosecutor Ian Unsworth QC said Williams, then 18, of Wallasey and Philip Stuart, 30, of Prenton, Wirral, had burgled a shop in Birkenhead, before stealing the keys to the Mitsubishi.
The truck was spotted by an unmarked police car and the officers gave chase, shortly joined by another patrol car which recorded the pursuit.
Williams drove at 'vastly excessive speeds' along narrow residential roads, through red lights and on the wrong side of the road, the prosecutor said.
The father-of-two, who died of his injuries in hospital, is pictured here with his wife Jen and two children
PC Phillips' widow, Jen, was pictured arriving at Manchester Crown Court with the officer's parents - Carol and Robin
The officer's widow, Jen (right), sat in the public gallery just yards from Williams in the dock, as the jury listened to the case against the defendant
Mr Unsworth said he then struck a parked car during the chase in a 'determined and ruthless attempt to avoid being apprehended'.
'Those ruthless qualities came to the fore when he approached the police officer who would be killed,' he said.
'The officer, Police Constable David Phillips, was doing no more than placing a special device known as a Stop Stick across the road.
'He was simply trying to bring the stolen vehicle to a controlled stop.
'If the defendant had driven over the device, the Stop Stick would then have acted to puncture the tyres and slow the vehicle down.'
But instead of driving over the device, Williams drove off the road at his victim, the jury heard.
Mr Unsworth said: 'The officer was, as you will see from the film recording, clearly visible, and, we suggest, had been for some distance beforehand.
'As events unfolded he stood little or no chance.
PC Dave Phillips' widow Jen was pictured wearing her late husband's name badge as she arrived at court for the murder trial
The father-of-two was tossed into the air before falling lifeless onto the road seconds after the crash in Wallasey, Merseyside, last October (pictured is the scene of the crash)
'PC Phillips moved backwards from where he was. Once the truck was a very short distance from the officer, the defendant turned it sharply to the left.
'It was, you may think, a cowardly and merciless act. PC Phillips' fate was sealed.'
The officer's widow, Jen, sat in the public gallery just yards from Williams in the dock, as the jury listened to the case against the defendant.
The court heard that PC Phillips suffered 'catastrophic' injuries and was pronounced dead a short time later despite efforts to save his life from his fellow officers.
'He could not and would not survive his injuries,' Mr Unsworth added, as Mrs Phillips sniffled and dabbed her eyes with a tissue.
The barrister told the jury that the way in which Williams drove the vehicle at the officer showed he had the intention to injure or kill.
Thousands of mourners and police officers in ceremonial uniform lined the streets of Liverpool for PC Phillips' funeral at the city's Anglican cathedral in November
PC Phillips, who had been an officer for nine years, was farewelled by hundreds of his fellow officers
After hitting PC Phillips, he then drove back on to the road in the direction of a second officer, PC Thomas Birkett, who had to leap out of the way, the court heard.
Williams has denied a second count of attempt to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to PC Birkett.
He has admitted the burglary in which the car was stolen and aggravated vehicle taking
PC Phillips, who had been an officer for nine years, left behind his wife, 28, and daughter Abigail, seven, and three-year-old Sophie.
His wife, Jen, was pictured wearing her late husband's name badge as she arrived at court for the murder trial.
Thousands of mourners and police officers in ceremonial uniform lined the streets of Liverpool for PC Phillips' funeral at the city's Anglican cathedral in November.
The trial continues.
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