JURORS in a murder trial have heard how a cyclist was left bleeding from his head, nose and ears after he was involved in a hit-and-run.

Brandon Ali and Joey Matthews are alleged to have killed Mr Eland and injured his girlfriend as they cycled through Middlesbrough last summer.

An eye-witness told police how they saw the white Vauxhall Insignia hit the pair on their bikes before driving away.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the car was later found burnt out near the Unicorn Centre in the shadow of Cleveland Police’s Hemlington headquarters.

Read more: Men accused of hit-and-run that killed dad told police they 'weren't involved'

The witness’s statement was read out in court for the jury to hear, she said the car came ‘straight out’ of a junction and hit both the cyclists.

She added: “I stopped my car to see if they were alright, I approached the lad but I couldn’t see if he was alright.

“He was bleeding from hie ears, nose and head. The woman was saying ‘they have killed him. They have killed him’.”

Mr Eland died after suffering fatal injuries when he was knocked from a bike in the Homerton Road and Gribdale Road area of Middlesbrough on August 21, 2021.

The Northern Echo: Carl Eland. Picture: CLEVELAND POLICECarl Eland. Picture: CLEVELAND POLICE

The 37-year-old died on August 25 after never recovering from the injuries he sustained in the crash with the white Vauxhall Insignia.

A post mortem revealed that he had suffered significant injuries as a result of the impact.

The jury heard how a badge found out the scene matched that of the car believed to have been used in the hit-and-run.

Earlier in the trial, jurors heard how in the hours after the hit-and-run incident a local man called Graham Parker noticed smoke coming from a car, which he recognised as one identified by the police in an online appeal for information. Mr Parker said he also found a petrol canister nearby and he called the fire brigade to attend to the burnt-out vehicle.

Ali, of Dalwood Court, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, and Matthews, of Newcomen Green, Middlesbrough, are accused of murder and attempt to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. The pair, both 21, deny the charges.

The trial continues.

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