Man who drove van at a crowd on Ilkeston Market Place found guilty of murder
Zac Newman had been on a night out, drinking alcohol and taking cocaine
A man has been convicted of murder after he drove a van into a crowd on Ilkeston Market Place in December last year.
Zac Newman, of The Crescent, Stapleford, was found guilty of killing 26-year-old Sam Wilson, who had been stood with his friends after a enjoying a night out in the run up to Christmas.
Twenty-seven-year-old Newman had also been on a night out, drinking alcohol and taking Cocaine just hours before he stormed off from the Market Place.
He returned driving a van drove it into the group where Sam was stood with his friends.
Sam suffered catastrophic injuries and despite attempts to save him, he died at the scene of the collision, just after 2.10am on Saturday 16 December.
Newman didn’t stop, but continued to drive home, arriving outside his house just seconds before police officers, and he was arrested.
Two others also suffered injuries which were not life threatening, and Newman was found guilty of one count of wounding with intent and one of attempted wounding with intent.
The jury was shown CCTV footage of the collision and Newman’s actions in the hours before the incident during the trial at Derby Crown Court, which lasted two weeks.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Croome, of East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “Zac Newman used a van as a weapon, and in a drug fuelled rage drove into a crowd of people who were just stood gathered after enjoying a night out in Ilkeston.
“His completely reckless and irresponsible actions that night has led to heart-breaking devastation for Sam’s family, and our thoughts remain with them at this time.”
DCI Croome added: “Thankfully, as a result of our investigation and the evidence that was presented to them, Newman is set face the consequences of those actions.”
The family of victims have asked members of the press to respect their privacy at this time.
Newman is due to be sentenced at Derby Crown Court later this week.