Man murdered his girlfriend's brother

A MAN who ran over and killed his girlfriend’s brother on the night they first met has been found guilty of murder. The victim Martin O’Donovan, who was 47, previously lived in Flintshire.

- By ADAM EVERETT and DAVID Powell

Mr O'Donovan was hit by Stephen Bates’ Ford Fiesta outside his sister’s home on Stonyhurst Road in Woolton, Liverpool, following his mum's 70th birthday party.

The two were said to have “hit it off straight away’, but later they became embroiled in a drunken punch up when the 42-year-old defendant apparently insisted on driving home, despite having downed a cocktail of Jagerbombs, Stella Artois, Red Bull and vodka.

Then Bates allegedly threatened that he would “pay someone to come and get” the other man before returning to the scene in his car and “deliberately driving straight at him”.

Mr O'Donovan was left trapped beneath the chassis as a result, with his uncles and cousins having worked together in order to lift the vehicle up and free him. However, he subsequently died in hospital after suffering serious head injuries during the incident.

Meanwhile Bates, of Herondale Road in Mossley Hill, went on to tell the officers who arrested him “I know what I've done, I've f***ed up” He has been on trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of murder and was found guilty yesterday.

The jury returned their verdict by a majority of ten to two after 13 hours and 17 minutes of deliberations. Cries of “yes” were heard in the public gallery, while the defendant, wearing a white long sleeved shirt and navy blue tie, stood with his head bowed in the dock, with some of his supporters seen in tears.

Bates will now be sentenced on November 28, and was further remanded into custody until this date. Judge Neil Flewitt KC told him: “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.”