Suspected robber denies murdering man who was hit with own car

A man accused of killing a 51-year-old when he was run over by his own car in a suspected robbery has pleaded not guilty to murder.

Errol Woodger, 37, is accused of stealing Marc Allen’s Mercedes GLA car in a 3am robbery in Erith, southeast London on December 29, 2019.

It is said Woodger then drove the stolen car into Mr Allen, leaving him with injuries from which he died in hospital a month later.

At the Old Bailey on Monday, Woodger appeared via a videolink from prison to plead not guilty to charges of murder and robbery.

Members of Mr Allen’s family attended court in person for the plea hearing.

It is said Mr Allen disturbed a burglar who had stolen the keys to his car, and went out into the driveway of his home in Peareswood Road, Erith to try to thwart the robbery.

The vehicle was reversed over Mr Allen, it is said, and then driven into him again.

Mr Allen suffered head injuries and was taken to King’s College Hospital in south London, but died after a month in a coma on January 29, 2020.

Woodger, of Mottisfont Road, in Abbey Wood, will remain in custody until a four-week trial which is due to start on March 24 next year.

A further hearing to prepare for the trial is due to take place on December 13.

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