A jury has retired to consider whether a father-of-two who suffered catastrophic injuries in a hit-and-run was murdered.

It is alleged drug dealer Erasmus Ahwoi struck Thomas Rossiter with his hired Kia Venga and then dragged the 42-year-old long a Swanley road and over speed bumps for almost 100m.

Mr Rossiter sustained multiple injuries and died at the scene.

Ahwoi, 30, from Croydon, denies murder.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Mr Rossiter had arranged to meet Ahwoi, known as Black Jack, in July last year.

Having got into the car in Hart Dyke Road, together with Mr Rossiter's brother Joseph Lee, a row broke out.

Once Mr Rossiter had left the vehicle it was alleged Ahwoi knocked him over before driving off into Lynden Way with Mr Rossiter, who was only 5ft 3in, underneath the car wheels.

Several residents and passing motorists in the area reported hearing a revving car engine and then screaming for the vehicle to stop.

One witness also told police he saw Mr Rossiter laying in the road before the car drove over his legs and his head.

The Kia Venga then made a heavy revving sound, followed by what was described as "a scratching noise, as if someone was dragging a heavy bag along the floor."

Mr Rossiter was said to have been "spat out" from beneath the car as it turned into Rowan Road.

Maidstone Crown Court heard part of Mr Rossiter's body would have been protruding, and a police traffic collision investigator later concluded that the effect on the car of him being underneath would have been "readily apparent" to the driver.

The jury of six men and six women was also told that Mr Rossiter's brother, Joseph Lee, repeatedly shouted at Ahwoi that Mr Rossiter was under the car during the daylight hit-and-run.

Having fled, Ahwoi met up with an ex-girlfriend and checks of her phone made by police after his subsequent arrest showed internet searches for 'Kent hit-and-run' and other similar phrases.

Giving evidence Ahwoi denied he deliberately mowed down Mr Rossiter.

He told the jury he did not see him in front of his car and would have reversed away if he had.