Man used car as a weapon to kill father-in-law

CCTV showed Thomas Connors was holding a large axe before his son-in-law left him fatally injured when he deliberately drove at him in his car

A man who drove a car at his father-in-law who was brandishing an axe has been convicted of murder.

CCTV had shown William Connors deliberately driving at Thomas Connors, 62, who had walked down his drive in Wolverhampton with the weapon.

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

William Connors, 28, of Cannock Road, Wolverhampton was convicted by a majority verdict at the city's crown court.

Footage shown to the court featured the victim holding the large axe before Connors, on realising what he was holding, deliberately drove a white Mercedes at him, West Midlands Police said.

William Connors was seen on CCTV deliberately driving his car at his father-in-law

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 the 62-year-old 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.

The defendant is due to be sentenced on 19 April.

'Highly respected'

“Tommy, devoted husband, father and grandfather has been taken from us," the victim's family said in a tribute.

“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."

Det Ch Insp Laura Harrison said Connors had used his car "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," she said.