Assault victim was dragged to his death by a passing bus

A thug assaulted an Afghani man who was dragged 80 metres to his death by a passing bus, a court heard.

Mark Pearce, 42, and his son Markie Collins, 20, attacked 30-year-old Amamudin Alikhel, known as Ali Khan, in West Road, Erith, southeast London, on 28 August 2023.

Mr Alikhel, from Afghanistan, was left lying in the road after an argument with the two men who then assaulted him.

He was trying to sit up when a bus struck him dragging him 80 metres down the road causing catastrophic injuries.

Ambulance services attended but Mr Alikhel was dead at the scene.

Pearce admitted manslaughter.

Collins, a father-of-one who works in a recycling centre, admitted assaulting Mr Alikhel and his friend Nangyale Helmandi causing actual bodily harm.

Pearce became involved in an argument with Mr Alikhel and Mr Helmandi in the street and ran off to get a plank of wood before returning with his son, who was then 17.

Pearce struck Mr Alikhel to the ground and both men assaulted him on the floor.

Collins was spared jail and given a seven month prison sentence suspend for 18 months.

He must undertake 20 days of rehabilitation activity.

Judge Martyn Levett, KC, said ‘This was call to arms by Mr Pearce who can be seen on CCTV running back carrying a long piece of wood.

‘There was an attack lasting only 30 seconds.

‘Both men were taken to floor and Mr Aikhel was struck by you both, leaving him motionless in the carriageway.

‘No one made an attempt to assist him and get him out of the middle of the road even though two cars drove past, each managing to avoid him.

‘The bus driver saw the remonstration on the left hand side road so drove the bus more into the centre to avoid the confrontation.

‘Unbeknownst to her Mr Aikhel was beginning to sit up just as the bus struck him.

‘His body was then dragged along the road for approximately 80 metres sustaining catastrophic injuries.’

Mark Pearce, of Erith, admitted manslaughter and was jailed for eight years and four months years.

Collins, also of Erith, admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
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