Man guilty of killing Kirk Marsden after Christmas Day pub altercation turns into fatal hit-and-run
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A man has been found guilty of killing Kirk Marsden after a Christmas Day altercation at a Blackburn pub escalated into a fatal hit-and-run.
Shortly after 4.30pm on December 25, 2024, Marsden, 37, was in The Gate Street Bar and Grill on Livesey Branch Road when a confrontation broke out with a group that included the defendant, James Ward.
During the dispute, a member of Ward’s group suffered an injury to his lip and tooth.
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Ward and the group left the pub and got into a Toyota Landcruiser parked on nearby Moorgate Street.
When Marsden came outside, the vehicle was deliberately driven at him, though he managed to jump clear.
Ward then took the wheel. Prosecutors told the court he reversed the car down the street towards where Marsden and another member of the group were standing on the pavement.
As Marsden headed back toward the pub, Ward deliberately struck him with the Landcruiser before reversing back over him.
Ward briefly stopped to allow his associate to re-enter the vehicle, then drove to a nearby car park in Brindle Street.
The pair switched into another 4x4 and returned to Moorgate Street, stopping for several seconds beside the seriously injured Marsden before driving away.
Marsden suffered catastrophic internal injuries and died the following afternoon on Boxing Day.
Ward handed himself in at Greenbank Police Station on December 28 but gave no comment during interviews.
Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, he was charged with Marsden’s killing.
After a two-week trial at Preston Crown Court, Ward, 27 - formerly of New Wellington Street, Blackburn, but now of no fixed address - was unanimously convicted of manslaughter on Thursday (28 November).
He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on March 6.
Det Chief Insp Bryony Midgley, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: “Firstly, I want to thank the jury for their considered verdict and my investigation team for their diligent efforts in putting together a strong evidential case that left the jury in no doubt that James Ward was responsible for killing Kirk.
“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.
“Finally, my thoughts remain with Kirk’s loved ones who will hopefully now be able to begin the process of rebuilding their lives.”