Birmingham Court Hears BMW Driver Deliberately Struck Man Before Crashing into House
A man has been accused of deliberately driving his BMW into another individual at high speed, resulting in fatal injuries, before crashing the vehicle into a residential property in Birmingham. The shocking incident unfolded in the Rednal area last July, with the defendant now facing serious charges in a ongoing trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
Details of the Alleged Incident in Rednal
Michael Povey, aged 29 and of no fixed address, stands trial for the murder of 28-year-old Lee Baker. The prosecution alleges that on July 21 last year, Povey intentionally targeted Mr Baker with his black BMW on Ormscliffe Road. According to court testimony, the vehicle was driven diagonally across the pavement at speed, striking Mr Baker who was unable to avoid the impact.
The car then continued across a garden before colliding with a house. Tragically, Lee Baker sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. His twin brother, Luke Baker, managed to jump out of the way and avoid being hit by the accelerating vehicle.
Prosecution's Account of Events Leading to the Collision
Prosecutor Phil Bradley KC outlined the sequence of events that preceded the fatal collision. Earlier that evening, Lee Baker and his brother Luke had been involved in an altercation near shops at the junction of Ormscliffe Road and Edgewood Road. Following this initial confrontation, both parties retreated to different locations.
The Baker brothers returned to a flat on nearby Roseleigh Road, while others including Jordan Hall – the defendant's brother-in-law – went to the balcony area behind the shops where Hall resided. According to the prosecution, both groups were preparing for further trouble, with the Bakers arming themselves with a hammer and broken bottle, and Hall obtaining a zombie-style double-edged sword.
Deliberate Pursuit and Aftermath
The court heard that Michael Povey, who lived just around the corner on Ryde Park Road, was informed of the trouble and drove his BMW to the back of the shops within minutes of the original incident. After meeting with the men there, Povey allegedly got back in his car with Hall and another individual and set off at speed in pursuit of the Baker brothers.
An eyewitness described the BMW driving diagonally across the junction onto the pavement where the Baker brothers stood, with the prosecution asserting this was a deliberate targeting of the individuals. Following the collision, Povey reportedly fled the scene, initially returning to the flats behind the shops before going home.
Attempted Cover-Up and Police Investigation
The prosecution detailed Povey's alleged attempts to conceal his involvement in the incident. Before returning home, he removed his distinctive high-visibility jacket which made him easily identifiable. Upon arriving home, he completely changed his clothes and telephoned police to report his BMW as stolen.
Mr Bradley told the court that Povey then returned to the scene, telling anyone who would listen – including a police officer and Lee Baker's brother Luke – that he was not the driver and had nothing to do with the incident. He maintained this account through eleven separate police interviews before CCTV evidence reportedly exposed his version of events as false.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
Michael Povey denies both a charge of murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter. The prosecution asserts that this was far from an accident but rather an obviously deliberate act. Mr Bradley stated that if the jury is sure Povey intended to kill or cause really serious harm, he should be found guilty of murder.
While Povey now accepts he was driving the BMW at the time of the collision, the central issue in the case is expected to be whether he intended to kill or cause serious harm to Lee Baker, or whether it was a terrible accident as the defense may argue. The trial continues as both sides present their evidence and arguments to the jury.
