A group of Aston Villa fans threw stones, bricks and glass bottles at a car moments before it ran down and killed a man, a court heard.

Around seven to ten men were seen running down Aston Hall Road throwing numerous objects at a silver Volkswagen Golf as it approached them from around a corner shortly after last season’s game between Aston Villa and Birmingham City.

A jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that a “scary” scene developed before 26-year-old Villa fan Christopher Priest was allegedly deliberately hit by the Golf. Mr Priest died “almost instantaneously” as the collision fractured his ribs and pelvis and teared one of his main arteries.

Lee Mockble, aged 21, of Robin Hood Lane, Hall Green, is accused of murdering Mr Priest, using the Volkswagen as a weapon in an act of “revenge or murderous intent”.

Giving evidence, a 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “I was in the back of my dad’s car with my brother and one of my dad’s friends.

“We saw the man who was hit giving the V sign to the car or beckoning it to come on.

“He was in the middle of the road, swearing and putting his fingers up.

“The group were throwing stones, glass bottles, anything, in the direction of the Golf.

“The car hit the lad and went over him and it went up and then smashed down on the floor. Then it crashed into us on our passenger side.

“I was really scared. The lad’s body was right next to me.”

Jonathan Husselbee, who was driving a Nissan Navara pick-up truck, described the moment he saw the Golf drive towards him.

He said: “We were going about 30 to 35 miles per hour. I saw the lad come out in the front of the road and I had to swerve round him. The group of men were throwing objects at the car.

“I believe they were throwing stones, bricks and glass bottles.

“The Golf pulled out round a car in front of it and then drove directly at me and the group of lads in front of me.”

Mockble denies murder and causing death by dangerous driving.

The case continues.