Killer who drove into motorcyclist's path jailed

Murat Karakas, 51, was convicted after a three-week trial at Stafford Crown Court

A man who killed a motorcyclist when he deliberately drove into his path to cause a crash has been jailed.

Murat Karakas, 51, instigated the crash involving Richard Radbourne after being told the biker was pursuing his son Richard and got into his Audi Q3 to find them, Stafford Crown Court heard.

When he caught up with the pair in Comberford Road, Tamworth, Karakas approached them head on and allowed his son to pass, before blocking the road, causing Mr Radbourne to be thrown from his bike as he hit the car.

The 47-year-old died at the scene from multiple traumatic injuries caused by Karakas, of Tamworth, including a severed spinal cord and brain damage.

The defendant was convicted of manslaughter after a three-week trial and jailed for 11 years.

As she passed sentence, Judge Kristina Montgomery said that while he showed remorse, the defendant had not accepted responsibility for his actions.

The judge also noted Karakas had been armed with a rounders bat on the night of the crash and had attempted to hide it from police by asking a family member to spirit it away.

Motorbike unrecognisable

In a statement read out after the hearing, Mr Radbourne's father Kevin said: "To lose my son in such a senseless and tragic way is very difficult to come to terms with.

"He was my youngest son, my baby. He was 47, but still very precious to me. We are left with a void that can never be filled."

Judge Montgomery said the "ferocity of the crash" had left Mr Radbourne's Harley Davidson unrecognisable when police reached the scene.

The court heard the defendant had been remorseful, phoning for an ambulance after the crash and writing a letter detailing his devastation to the court.

But the judge said: "Remorse is only genuine if it accepts accountability and I don't find that you found yourself accountable for your actions."

The judge ordered Karakas to serve two-thirds of his sentence in prison before he could be released on licence.

On release, he will also be disqualified from driving for five years, and must take an extended retest before he can be permitted to get back behind the wheel.