Two teens jailed for killing man with car in Waltham Abbey
The pair were convicted of killing Neil Darnell earlier this year
A man and a teenager have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for killing Neil Darnell with a car in Waltham Abbey earlier this year.
A 17 year-old boy from Cheshunt was behind the wheel of a car which hit local man Neil Darnell on Friday 16th April.
Patrick O'Driscoll, who's 18 and from Hertford, was the passenger.
They had been attempting to pursue a cyclist following an earlier altercation in Market Square that morning.
While following the man at speed in a damaged BMW, they hit 50 year-old Neil Darnell, a completely innocent pedestrian, who had been crossing the junction at Farm Hill Road.
Sadly, he died in hospital two days later from a traumatic brain injury.
On Monday 8th November, at Chelmsford Crown Court, a jury found the pair guilty of causing Neil's death.
The driver was found guilty of murder, while the passenger O'Driscoll was convicted of manslaughter.
The 17 year-old has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years, while the passenger was sentenced to 8 years.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Greg Wood said: “Even after they had hit and fatally injured an innocent man, they still continued to drive dangerously to follow the cyclist.
“They didn’t stop their vehicle, call for help or make any attempt to help Neil. Instead, they fled the scene and dumped the car to try and cover their tracks.
“I don’t think they had a care for who they would possibly injure that day.
“Although this result can’t bring back the loving husband and father Neil’s family have lost, I hope they will find some relief knowing that they are now rightfully behind bars.”