A man has been found guilty of killing his girlfriend’s brother with a car.
Martin O’Donovan was mowed down by Stephen Bates outside sister Susanne Lewzey’s home on Stonyhurst Road in Woolton on April 18.
The pair only met for the first time at his mother’s 70h birthday celebrations but were said to have ‘hit it off straight away’ before a drunken punch-up.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Bates’ plans on driving home to Mossley Hill despite consuming a large amoujt of alcohol was at the heart of the fracas.
The 42-year-old was taken back by Ms Lewzey’s sister Natalie O’Donovan, who described him as ‘seething’ towards her brother over the garden scuffle.
After directing Ms O’Donovan to Barndale Road, the street next to his own, Bates is said to have taken hold of the keys to his Ford Fiesta and sped back.
He then reportedly drove straight at Mr O’Donovan, who was sat on a wall outside the property at the time, and allegedly continued to rev his engine.
A jury of three men and nine women returned a majority verdict of 10 to two finding Bates guilty of O’Donovan’s murder on Monday (November 3).
He will be sentenced on November 28 and was further remanded in custody.
Judge Neil Flewitt KC said: “As I am sure that you appreciate, the only sentence I can, by law, pass upon you is a sentence of imprisonment for life.
“I have to determine the minimum term you will have to serve before you can be considered for release on parole.
“I am grateful to the families on both sides for the dignity with which they have behaved this afternoon.”