A British car dealer has been cleared of assault and dangerous driving after saying he felt compelled to drive nearly 5km with an enraged 120kg New Zealand man on the bonnet of his Mercedes.
Gerry Brown told a court in Northern Ireland that Philip Quirey had sought a refund on
a car bought from Brown's yard in Annsborough, south of Belfast.
Mr Quirey chased Brown and jumped on the bonnet of his car, the Belfast Telegraph reported.
Downpatrick District Court judge Mervyn Bates dismissed all charges against Brown after listening to his emergency call while driving, in which he shouted: "I've got a New Zealander on the bonnet of my car. He's f****** lost it. He's going to kill me. I'm not stopping. This man is going to kill me. He's three times the size of me".
Brown said he was too frightened to obey police instructions to stop. When officers halted him after nearly 5km - with Mr Quirey still on the bonnet - they charged Brown with assault, dangerous driving and driving while using a mobile phone.
Brown sold a car for £350 ($730) to Mr Quirey's nephew Lesley but it broke down after a week.
The pair arrived at his caryard looking for a refund, and had a Staffordshire bull terrier and pickaxe handle in their car.
"I just wanted to get out of there," said Brown. "They followed me." Mr Quirey jumped on his bonnet at traffic lights.
Mr Quirey said Brown drove into him, forcing him on to the bonnet. The dog was not intended to intimidate, and the pickaxe handle was a toy for the dog.
- NZPA
