Drunk Driver Jailed for Life After Fatal Hit-and-Run

Stephen Bates has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the deliberate killing of Martin O'Donovan, the brother of his girlfriend. The tragedy unfolded on April 18, when Bates, heavily intoxicated after consuming a mixture of alcohol and energy drinks, struck Mr. O'Donovan with his Ford Fiesta. The incident occurred outside the home of Mr. O'Donovan's sister, Natalie O'Donovan, following a dispute that began after Bates refused to leave without his car.

Despite the initial altercation, which involved punches exchanged between Bates and Mr. O'Donovan, the situation escalated dramatically. Bates drove away briefly but returned to the scene in a furious state. He then intentionally drove his vehicle onto the pavement, hitting Mr. O'Donovan, who was seated on a wall, and trapping him beneath the car. Family members made desperate attempts to lift the vehicle, but Mr. O'Donovan sustained fatal injuries and later died in hospital.

At Liverpool Crown Court, Bates was sentenced to life with a minimum of 18 years. The judge noted that while Bates showed remorse, it was tempered by his self-centered behavior after the incident. The court acknowledged the absence of premeditation but emphasized the dangerous and aggressive nature of the act. Bates' actions resulted in the devastating loss of Mr. O'Donovan's life, leaving his family and his girlfriend in profound grief.