A father and son have been found guilty of manslaughter after a deliberate high-speed collision in Northfleet claimed the life of a four-year-old boy and left his father with life-changing injuries. Following a three-week trial at Maidstone Crown Court, Owen Maughan, 28, and Patrick Maughan, 54, both from Dartford, were convicted for the death of young Peter Maughan.
A Deadly Pursuit
The court heard that on Sunday, June 1, 2025, the two men spent over six hours drinking at pubs in Rochester. Owen consumed approximately 12 bottles of alcohol, while Patrick drank 13 pints. The fatal encounter began by chance as the victims were returning from Maidstone. The Maughans spotted the family’s Ford Ranger on the A2 and began a terrifying pursuit, with dashcam footage from other motorists showing Owen Maughan tailgating and driving dangerously for several miles.
After exiting at the Pepperhill junction, the vehicles stopped side-by-side for a verbal altercation. Moments later, at approximately 9:30 pm on New Barn Road, Owen deliberately rammed the family’s vehicle at 60 mph, causing it to roll over.
Four-year-old Peter Maughan died from his injuries shortly after being taken to the hospital. His father sustained life-changing injuries and is now unable to walk, while his mother and sister suffered minor injuries. In the immediate wake of the crash, the Maughans fled the scene before emergency services arrived.
Evidence presented in court showed that Patrick Maughan was captured on CCTV removing the number plates from their vehicle in an attempt to evade capture. Their Ford Ranger was later found abandoned in Hextable with significant front-end damage and a child’s pushchair trapped underneath.
Owen and Patrick were both charged with the murder of Peter, as well as causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent and two counts of attempted GBH with intent. Following a three‑week trial at Maidstone Crown Court, both men — who were known to the victims — were acquitted of murder but were found guilty of manslaughter.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Rachel Elmore said:
‘This was a devastating and entirely avoidable tragedy. An innocent young child lost his life, a father has been left unable to walk again, and a mother now faces the unimaginable task of rebuilding her family while carrying her grief.
‘Their lives have been irreversibly changed by the deliberate and dangerous actions of these two men. No sentence can ever undo the pain they have caused.
‘Yet despite everything, the victims and their family have shown extraordinary courage and resilience throughout this trial. I hope today’s verdict brings some measure of justice for them and offers a small degree of comfort to Peter’s loved ones.’