Man admits killing decorated Royal Marine veteran in road rage row

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A BMW driver has admitted killing a decorated Falklands War veteran in a road rage row.

Tarkan Agca, 24, knocked ex-Royal Marine sergeant major Andrej Szaruta “high into the air” after tailgating him on the A303 near Stonehenge, in Wiltshire, on 21 June.

Mr Szaruta, known as Andy, was travelling in his silver Mercedes with his wife Susan and daughter Rachel from their home in Bridgwater, Somerset, to London to see his son Christian for a Father’s Day and birthday celebration.

Kerry Maylin, prosecuting, said Ms Szaruta described how Agca, 24, “tailgated” behind them, prompting her husband “to tap his brake to indicate the BMW shouldn’t be so close”.

Ms Szaruta said the BMW then undertook them before “squeezing” in front of them and braking so hard that it was like an “emergency stop”.

Ms Maylin said the two drivers then pulled over to a slipway by the A303 Solstice Park services and Mr Szaruta, 63, walked over towards the BMW to speak to the driver.

However, when Mr Szaruta stood in front of the vehicle, Agca accelerated, hitting him and causing fatal injuries.

The prosecutor said Mr Szaruta’s daughter witnessed the incident and told police: “My dad had his hand on the bonnet, he went up on the bonnet and high up into the air.

“Dad was carried a car length on the bonnet.”

Ms Maylin said another witness saw Agca driving away “far in excess of the 70mph limit” and “skipping between cars”.

Mr Szaruta was flown to hospital but died from a head injury two days later.

Agca, of Watford, Hertfordshire, pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the first day of a trial at Winchester Crown Court, where he had been accused of the murder of Mr Szaruta.

The court heard how the labourer had 13 previous convictions for 28 offences, with several relating to road rage incidents which involved tailgating and attacking vehicles, and one incident where he spat at a driver.

The judge, Mrs Justice May, adjourned the case for sentencing on 10 January and ordered a pre-sentence report to consider the “dangerousness” of the defendant.

In a statement, Ms Szaruta said she suffers flashbacks and added: “I have lost my husband, my best friend and have to cope with the trauma of what happened.”

Rachel Szaruta said her father, a facilities and operations director, was “the most kind-hearted and bravest man” she knew and “he didn’t deserve such an ending”.

The victim’s family said in a statement released after his death: “Andy Szaruta, loyal husband to wife Susan, and loving father to daughter Rachel, 28, and son Christian, 32.

“Andy was a sergeant major in the Royal Marine Commandos for 22 years, gaining medals for serving in the Falklands War, two tours in Northern Ireland, and a Nato medal during the Bosnian war.

“He greatly enjoyed spending time with his family, in particular supporting Christian in his racing career at racing circuits throughout the UK and Europe.”

Additional reporting by Press Association