Killer guilty of ploughing Mercedes into father-in-law
AKILLER who ploughed his Mercedes into his “devoted” father-in-law has been convicted of his “heinous” murder. “Angry” William Connors “used his car as a weapon” when he mounted the pavement and mowed down father-in-law Thomas Connors.
The 28-year-old knew he was not welcome at Thomas’ family home but turned up outside the Wolverhampton property and “lost his temper”. Instead of driving away, he hurtled into the 63-year-old grandad and ran him over in front of other family members.
He denied his offending and instead claimed he feared Thomas – also known as Tommy – was about to kill him. But jurors rejected his tale and convicted him of murder at Wolverhampton Crown Court this week. William Connors now faces life behind bars and will be sentenced next month. Thomas’ family have since paid tribute to him, slamming his murder as “atrocious, cruel and heinous”. In a statement, his family said: “Tommy, devoted husband, father and grandfather, has been taken from us. Tommy’s family, nuclear and extended, are so hurt and
devastated by the atrocious, cruel and heinous death of Tommy.
“He was highly respected in his community
and was well-liked and full of character, his death has affected everyone. There are no words to describe the pain we are all feeling.
“Tommy is and always will be deeply missed, he didn’t die from sickness, he didn’t die from old age, he died because his life was taken from him. He was murdered.”
The murder trial heard how William drove to Thomas’ home in Compton Road, Wolverhampton, on September 11 last year.
He did not leave the scene even though he knew he was not welcome at the address. Thomas walked down his driveway while holding a large axe as his killer arrived at the scene.
Footage from CCTV captured William “deliberately driving” the white vehicle towards his father-in-law. Connors then fled the murder spot before dumping his car and making his way to Coventry.
Thomas died from his injuries in hospital the next day, West Midlands Police said. The killer handed himself in at Coventry Police Station on September 12.
He claimed he did not realise he had killed his father-in-law, telling officers he panicked because he feared Thomas was going to kill him as he was chasing his car. But the CCTV established Thomas was not chasing the Mercedes and was walking on the pavement when William steered directly towards him.
Detective chief inspector Laura Harrison, from West Midlands Police’s homicide unit, said: “William used his vehicle as a weapon to kill his father-in-law. He was angry and lost his temper and instead of driving away to calm down, he deliberately drove at Thomas without thinking of the consequences.
“My thoughts are with the family after this horrific incident.”
Tommy’s family, nuclear and extended, are so hurt and devastated by the atrocious, cruel and heinous death of Tommy.