Man convicted for ‘atrocious’ Christmas Day car killing by pub

A driver who deliberately tried to mow down a man outside a Lancashire pub on Christmas Day before reversing over him in an “atrocious act of violence” has been found guilty of manslaughter.

Kirk Marsden, 37, was hit outside The Gate Bar and Grill on the corner of Moorgate Street, Blackburn, just after 16:45 GMT on 25 December 2024 and taken to Royal Preston Hospital where he died on Boxing Day of “catastrophic internal injuries”.

James Ward, 58, of no fixed address, was convicted of manslaughter at Preston Crown Court after a two-week trial.

Ward was convicted unanimously by the jury and remanded in custody for sentencing on 6 March.

Mr Marsden was involved in a row with a group of people including Ward where one member suffered an injury to his lip and tooth.

Ward and his friends gathered outside in a 4×4, before the vehicle was driven at Mr Marsden, who jumped out of the way.

Later while behind the wheel, Ward again drove at Mr Marsden and struck him, before the vehicle then reversed over him, causing fatal injuries.

Det Ch Insp Bryony Midgley of Lancashire Police said: “Ward escalated the earlier incident by engaging in an atrocious level of violence which left all those who witnessed it absolutely horrified.

“This should have been a quiet family drink on Christmas Day, but instead Kirk never made it home to his family due to unnecessary mindless violence.

“Egregious behaviour of this kind has no place on the streets of Lancashire, and I am pleased that Ward has now been brought to justice.”

Ward and his group left the pub on Livesey Branch Road and got into a Toyota Landcruiser which was parked outside on Moorgate Street.

He persuaded the driver to drive at Mr Marsden who managed to jump out of the way.

Ward then got into the Landcruiser driver’s seat reversed it down towards where one of his group was on the pavement with Mr Marsden.

Police said as Mr Marsden headed back towards the pub, Ward deliberately struck him with the Landcruiser before reversing back over the injured victim.

Ward stopped to let his associate get back into the car, and then drove them to a car park where they got into another 4×4 car, drove back up to Moorgate Street, stopped alongside Mr Marsden for six seconds and then drove off.