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Man guilty of fan's road murder Man guilty of fan's road murder
(1 day later)
A man has been jailed for murdering a football fan by driving into him after a Premier League match in Birmingham.A man has been jailed for murdering a football fan by driving into him after a Premier League match in Birmingham.
Aston Villa fan Christopher Priest, 26, died after his team's 5-1 home derby win over Birmingham City in 2008.Aston Villa fan Christopher Priest, 26, died after his team's 5-1 home derby win over Birmingham City in 2008.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Lee Mockble, 21, of Hall Green, Birmingham, deliberately drove at Mr Priest, on 20 April, killing him instantly.Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Lee Mockble, 21, of Hall Green, Birmingham, deliberately drove at Mr Priest, on 20 April, killing him instantly.
Judge John Warner told Mockble, who was jailed for life, that he would serve a minimum jail term of 12 years. Judge John Warner told Mockble, who was jailed for life, that he would serve a minimum of 12 years in prison.
He had denied the charge, but a jury took three hours to find him guilty.He had denied the charge, but a jury took three hours to find him guilty.
Regardless of motive, this was a tragic case where a young man was robbed of his life Det Insp Nick WaltonRegardless of motive, this was a tragic case where a young man was robbed of his life Det Insp Nick Walton
The court heard Mockble, of Robin Hood Lane, drove his Volkswagen Golf into Mr Priest in Aston Hall Road after the derby match in "a dreadful act of revenge".The court heard Mockble, of Robin Hood Lane, drove his Volkswagen Golf into Mr Priest in Aston Hall Road after the derby match in "a dreadful act of revenge".
It followed an incident in which Mr Priest's friend, Daniel Brown, threw a pint glass at Mockble's car after asking if it contained Birmingham City fans, the court heard.It followed an incident in which Mr Priest's friend, Daniel Brown, threw a pint glass at Mockble's car after asking if it contained Birmingham City fans, the court heard.
The pint glass injured one of the passengers and damaged the car. The pint glass shattered one of the car windows and injured one of the passengers, the jury heard.
The three-week trial heard Mockble responded to the "unprovoked attack" on his car by driving into Mr Priest, from Sutton Coldfield, without braking or swerving.The three-week trial heard Mockble responded to the "unprovoked attack" on his car by driving into Mr Priest, from Sutton Coldfield, without braking or swerving.
Mockble had not been at the match, but was driving near the Villa Park ground as fans made their way home.Mockble had not been at the match, but was driving near the Villa Park ground as fans made their way home.
'Clear choice''Clear choice'
Prosecuting, Christopher Hotten QC, said Mockble and his passengers were "victims of the attack" on their car and "were up to this point, in the right".Prosecuting, Christopher Hotten QC, said Mockble and his passengers were "victims of the attack" on their car and "were up to this point, in the right".
Lee Mockble was driving near the ground after the match
He told the court they "had a clear choice" and could have left the scene or reported the incident to police.He told the court they "had a clear choice" and could have left the scene or reported the incident to police.
He said if Mockble had taken that course he would have "quickly discovered" that Mr Brown's act had been witnessed by three police officers who had arrested him "within seconds".He said if Mockble had taken that course he would have "quickly discovered" that Mr Brown's act had been witnessed by three police officers who had arrested him "within seconds".
"Sadly, that was not what Mr Mockble did. What Mr Mockble did, we say, was to take the law into his own hands," Mr Hotten said."Sadly, that was not what Mr Mockble did. What Mr Mockble did, we say, was to take the law into his own hands," Mr Hotten said.
He said instead Mockble "executed a rapid U-turn" and drove "significantly in excess of the 30mph speed limit" in the direction of Mr Priest and his friends.He said instead Mockble "executed a rapid U-turn" and drove "significantly in excess of the 30mph speed limit" in the direction of Mr Priest and his friends.
The impact of the crash fractured Mr Priest's pelvis and ribs and tore a main artery, causing him to die as he lay in the road, the jury heard.The impact of the crash fractured Mr Priest's pelvis and ribs and tore a main artery, causing him to die as he lay in the road, the jury heard.
'Complex inquiry''Complex inquiry'
Mr Priest's mother, Barbara, sobbed quietly during the sentencing and shouted: "Justice has been done" as she left the court with police family liaison officers.Mr Priest's mother, Barbara, sobbed quietly during the sentencing and shouted: "Justice has been done" as she left the court with police family liaison officers.
Supporters of Mockble responded with a raft of insults.Supporters of Mockble responded with a raft of insults.
After the trial, Det Insp Nick Walton said it had been a "particularly complex inquiry", involving a large number of witness statements.After the trial, Det Insp Nick Walton said it had been a "particularly complex inquiry", involving a large number of witness statements.
He said there was never any suggestion it was a pre-meditated attack based on football rivalry, but that initial events "began as a result of a bit of football-based hostility initiated by persons associated with Christopher".He said there was never any suggestion it was a pre-meditated attack based on football rivalry, but that initial events "began as a result of a bit of football-based hostility initiated by persons associated with Christopher".
"Regardless of motive, this was a tragic case where a young man was robbed of his life," he added."Regardless of motive, this was a tragic case where a young man was robbed of his life," he added.