Kevin Marsh sentenced for causing death of girlfriend in head-on crash
On Tuesday, January 2, a seven-day trial commenced after Kevin Marsh, of Gaskell Street, Parr, pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. On the second day of the trial he pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drink or drugs. The court heard that on July 5 last year, a white Ford Fiesta was driving along Broad Oak Road towards St Helens town centre when it crossed on to the wrong side of the road and lost control near to the junction with Delta Road.
It then collided into the front of a refuse truck after travelling at excessive speeds in wet conditions. Marsh, 43, who was the driver of the Ford Fiesta, got out of the vehicle and left the scene on foot, leaving his girlfriend in the vehicle with serious injuries. Sadly, 47-year-old Michelle Atherton, who was a front seat passenger, died from her injuries a short time later.
Michelle Atherton (Image: Merseyside Police) Marsh was later arrested as council workers had located and detained him until police arrived at the scene. The jury found Marsh guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and today he was sentenced to 16 years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court.
He was also disqualified from driving for 18 years and will have to take an extended driving test Liverpool Crown Court (Image: Stock)
'Their lives have been changed forever'
Detective Sergeant Kurt Timpson, Lead Investigating Officer from Merseyside Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: "Our thoughts remain very much with the family of Michelle Atherton who died in this crash. "It has been a very difficult period of time for them as their lives have been changed forever by this incident, and they have been supported by a specially trained Family Liaison Officer throughout the case.
"I welcome the sentence today and I would like to thank members of the public who helped at the scene that morning. I also thank members of the jury who have carried out their duty based on the evidence they have heard. "Marsh was impaired through drink and drugs that morning, and the speed and manner of driving in wet conditions was grossly excessive and inappropriate, and he has been found in open court to be dangerous.
His driving was prolonged and was vastly in excess of the speed limit."
'Marsh's claims were simply untrue'
Detective Sergeant Timpson added: "Excess speed and driving while impaired through drink and drugs devastates lives and causes unimaginable harm to people who become involved in road crashes. Not one of us would want to be involved in such incidents and we must change driving behaviour to reduce that harm. "Marsh has selfishly put Michelle's family through the added pressure of sitting through a trial, and hearing him allege that Michelle was responsible for the crash.
This was simply not true. "Merseyside Police will not tolerate drivers who deliberately ignore the rules of the road and will be relentless in our pursuit of justice. "We are committed to the prevention of serious injury and road death, to work towards Vision Zero - our strategy focused on driving down the amount of road traffic collisions in our regions and to lower the number of people killed and seriously injured on our streets.
"However, this is something that we must all do in partnership. Communities can also take a stand and help us to make the roads safer. We know how much you want to help us, so that we can ensure roads and shared spaces are used responsibly and that people abide by the laws we enforce.
"The sentence issued at Liverpool Crown Court today by Judge Aubrey KC today shows that the courts will deal robustly with offenders and acts as a stark message to anyone whose selfish and reckless actions end in such tragedy."
Full report from today's sentencing hearing to follow