Jail for man who fatally hit father-in-law with car

William Connors was found guilty of murdering Thomas Connors, his father-in-law and uncle, by hitting him with his car

A man who deliberately and fatally hit his father-in-law with his car has been jailed.

William Connors, 28, of Cannock Road in Wolverhampton, was found guilty of the murder of 62-year-old Thomas Connors, who was also his uncle, after a trial at the city's crown court.

CCTV had shown William Connors deliberately driving at Thomas Connors who had walked down his drive holding an axe.

Connors was handed a life sentence and must serve a minimum of 20 years in prison.

Thomas Connors was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather

Thomas Connors was left seriously injured outside his Compton Road home on 11 September 2023 and died in hospital the following day.

The defendant fled the scene after the crash and dumped the car before making his way to Coventry, police said.

He handed himself in at Coventry police station the following day and claimed he did not realise he had killed his father-in-law.

He told officers that his father-in-law was chasing him and he believed he would kill him with the axe.

However, CCTV footage later revealed no chase took place and the victim was walking on the pavement when Connors steered directly at him.

Thomas Connors' family said: "There are no words to describe the pain we are all feeling"

In a statement, Thomas Connors' family said they were devastated by the "atrocious, cruel and heinous death".

“He was highly respected in his community and was well liked and full of character, his death has affected everyone," they said.

“There are no words to describe the pain we are all feeling."

Det Ch Insp Laura Harrison from West Midlands Police said: “William Connors 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 Mr Connors without thinking of the consequences."