Man convicted of mowing down his partner's brother

KILLER SANK JAGERBOMBS AT 70TH BIRTHDAY PARTY OF VICTIM'S MUM

- JAMES CARTLEDGE, ADAM EVERETT

A KILLER who mowed down his girlfriend’s brother hours after they downed Jagerbombs together at a family birthday party is facing life in jail after he was convicted of murder.

A court heard party-goers had joked that Stephen Bates and Martin O'Donovan had developed a “bromance” when they met for the first time at a 70th birthday bash for the victim’s mum.

But the two men later fought outside the party venue after Bates had got drunk and rowed with Mr O'Donovan’ sister, Suzanne Lewzey.

Bates, 42, left the party but returned in his Ford Fiesta and ran down Mr O'Donovan, trapping him beneath the car. He died later in hospital.

It happened in Liverpool after Mr O'Donovan, who was 47 and lived in Birmingham, made a rare return to his home city for the celebration at Ms Lewzey’s home, the city’s crown court was told.