A jury heard how five men set off with ‘murderous intent’ when they hunted down their victim to settle a violent feud between two families.
Daniel Ambler suffered fatal injuries when a Nissan X-Trail hit him and rammed him into a garage shop front as he tried to escape.
The 23-year-old was attacked at a Seaham bus stop by members of the Anderson family, including Barry and his sons Ashton and Logan.
Ashton, 20, chased Mr Ambler before attacking him with a hammer or crowbar, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Daniel Ambler (Image: DURHAM POLICE)
Barry Anderson attacked Mr Ambler’s friend Reece Wilkin before his son Ashton and friends Aja Henry and Tyler Leadbetter joined him.
The three younger murder accused got back into their car and chased Mr Ambler after he broke free from his attacker.
A witness filling up his car at the Esso service station told jurors he saw a Nissan X-Trail speed onto the forecourt before smashing into Mr Ambler.
Giving evidence, Daniel Miller said: "I saw a Nissan X-Trail car come from the same direction driving towards this chap and hit the man.
"The car continued going with the chap pinned to the shop front area and the car came to a stop."
Esso New Seaham Service Station, Seaham (Image: Sarah Caldecott (The Northern Echo))
Prosecutor Matthew Donkin KC asked whether Mr Miller saw the Nissan driver try to slow down as he sped on to the forecourt.
He replied: "No, I didn't."
Asked what happened next, he said three people got out of the car and described the driver as being like a 'rabbit in the headlights'.
Mr Miller said they all ran away within seconds of getting out of the Nissan.
Asked why he reached into the Nissan to release the handbrake, Mr Miller said: "I didn't know whether he was breathing or not. I thought if we moved the car back, we could see whether he was saveable."
Mr Miller said he tried to shake Mr Ambler, but there was no response or sign of life.
A forensic officer working at the scene on Saturday (January 17). (Image: ANDY FUTERS)
In his opening speech, Mr Donkin outlined what happened before the fatal impact at about 4.50pm on Thursday, January 15.
The barrister said: “What is shown on CCTV is clear. Barry Anderson pursued an attack on Reece Wilkin, Ashton Anderson followed in the car and drove it into the wall and he and his two friends in the back got out and jumped over the wall. What exactly people did at that stage may be in dispute.
"Whilst that was going on, Logan Anderson was further up on the grassed area with Daniel Ambler and we can see on the CCTV that Daniel Ambler was on the ground.
"There is no dispute that both Ajay and Tyler got back into the Nissan as Ashton got back in to drive it along the road in the direction of Daniel Ambler.
"Where there is disagreement between the prosecution and defence is where the prosecution asserts that this was a coordinated and deliberate targeting of Daniel Ambler, with murderous intent.”
The jury heard that the violence began with Barry Anderson’s stabbing in August last year.
Mr Ambler’s brother David and his friend Jed Wilson fought Barry Anderson, 52, who was stabbed during the struggle.
Barry Anderson, 52, of Canon Cockin Street, Sunderland; Ashton Anderson, 20, of Ryton Crescent, Seaham; and Barry Logan Anderson, 19, of Nursery View, Shotton Bank, face murder and violent disorder charges.
Ajay Henry, of Melrose Crescent, Seaham, and Tyler Leadbetter, of Elgin Avenue, Seaham, were both 17 when charged with murder.
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The teenagers can now be named because the reporting restriction expired when they turned 18.
Ashton Anderson, who drove the Nissan X-Trail, has pleaded guilty to violent disorder.
The trial is expected to last up to five weeks at Teesside Crown Court.