THE girlfriend of a father-of-three who died after being knocked off his moped told the police he was “really scared” just days before he was killed.
Kerrin Repman, 29, suffered catastrophic injuries after falling from his vehicle as a result of a collision with Keith McCarthy in Marine Parade, Dovercourt.
McCarthy, 42, was subsequently charged with murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent almost eight months after the incident on April 15, 2020.
On the second day of a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court today, Kerrin’s partner Emma Cousins told of his fear of McCarthy in the days leading up to his death.
A police interview from July 2020 played to the court showed a then 35-year-old and emotional Miss Cousins telling of what Kerrin had been saying to her two days before he was killed.
“Kerrin was parked near Iceland [in Dovercourt High Street] and Keith has come along, grabbed him, trying to get him in the car,” said Miss Cousins.
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“Kerrin’s gone running into USA Fried Chicken, stayed in there a little while then come out and come back home.
“He ran in saying ‘Keith just grabbed me and tried to get me in the car’.
“Kerrin said: 'I’m not getting in the car’ and Keith said ‘You’d better get in the car, don’t make me get out this car’.”
The court heard at this point McCarthy got out of his BMW, causing Kerrin, a chef, to run into USA Fried Chicken opposite where he was stood.
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Miss Cousins alleged to the police officer interviewing her that McCarthy wanted drugs from Kerrin as part of a debt owed to him.
She revealed the moped Kerrin was using had been leased to him from a drug dealer so he could deliver illicit goods to pay off a debt he had racked up.
She continued: “Keith is not the sort of person you want to mess about with. Kerrin was really scared.
“When he got back he didn’t want to go back out again. He knew Keith was trying to get him.”
McCarthy, of Hordle Street, Dovercourt, denies the charges against him.
- The trial continues.
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