A driver who struck and killed a Birmingham man with his car just hours after forming a 'bromance' with him at a family party has been sentenced to life imprisonment.
A celebration turns to tragedy
Stephen Bates, 42, murdered 47-year-old Martin O'Donovan in April after a day of drinking at a 70th birthday party for Mr O'Donovan's mother in Liverpool. The two men had met for the first time at the celebration and initially got along so well that relatives joked about their instant 'bromance'.
The situation deteriorated, however, after Bates consumed a significant amount of alcohol, including Jagerbombs, and subsequently argued with his girlfriend, Susanne Lewzey. Despite being intoxicated, he was determined to drive himself home.
The fatal sequence of events
Bates eventually agreed to be driven away from the party by another of Mr O'Donovan's sisters. When she stopped near his home on Herondale Road in Mossley Hill, he unexpectedly snatched the keys to his Ford Fiesta.
He then returned to the party scene, where he deliberately drove his vehicle into Mr O'Donovan, who was sitting outside the house. The collision caused catastrophic injuries from which the Birmingham resident died.
Justice served at Liverpool Crown Court
Upon his arrest, Bates told police officers, "I know what I've done, I've f***ed up". Following a trial earlier this month where he was convicted of murder, he was back at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, November 28.
Judge Neil Flewitt KC handed down a life sentence, stating Bates must serve a minimum of 18 years in prison. The judge condemned Bates's actions, saying the crash was "no accident" but rather a "determined act of aggression" towards an unprovoking victim.
Judge Flewitt noted that Bates had been obstructive at the scene and showed no concern for Mr O'Donovan's wellbeing, instead focusing solely on the impact on his own life. While accepting some remorse had been shown, the judge said this was tempered by his initial self-centred behaviour following the fatal incident.
During his trial, Bates claimed he had returned to "try to sort our relationship out" and had unintentionally hit Mr O'Donovan after colliding with a wall. The jury rejected this account, finding him guilty of murder.
In mitigation, defence barrister Andrew Haslam KC said his client had to live with the knowledge that he caused the death of a much-loved father, son, brother, and friend. He mentioned Bates had applied to become a mentor in prison, but acknowledged this carried limited weight for such a serious crime.
