Two men jailed for ‘senseless’ murders near Surrey M3 that killed much loved friends

Two men have been jailed for murder for a combined 63 years, after a fatal collision[1] in Sunbury Cross last year. Officers were called at 00.52am on Monday, July 22, 2024, to the exit slip road between the southbound carriageway of the A316 at the junction with the M3 and the Sunbury[2] cross roundabout. Members of the public had discovered a black Talaria Sting e-bike and its two riders in the carriageway.

It had been involved in a collision with another vehicle which had failed to stop. Both riders had catastrophic injuries.

21-year-old William Birchard died at the roadside, and 22-year-old Darren George died later that same day in hospital. A black pickup truck was seen performing a U-turn and driving down the slip road towards Sunbury Cross roundabout shortly after the collision, and a black Ford Ranger Raptor registered to a local man was soon identified and found parked up close by.

Several hours later the owner, Alex Rose, contacted police to falsely report his truck stolen. Rose, who had previously been a victim of burglary[3] at his business premises, saw people moving around in the grounds of a college which backed onto his home on the night of July 21, and believed they were a group of burglars. At this point Rose called Charles Pardoe to meet up and they drove around in his black Raptor for over an hour.

During this time, Rose was in phone contact with his girlfriend, Tara Knaggs, who remained at home while he searched. It was here, shortly before 00.50am, that William Birchard and Darren George's paths crossed with Rose as they rode into Sunbury on the Talaria Sting e-bike. Having spotted the two men, it is believed that Rose mistook them for part of the group he had been searching for and pursued the e-bike along Green Street to the Sunbury Cross roundabout, exceeding speeds of 60mph in a 30mph zone.

In their efforts to get away, William and Darren drove the wrong way around the Sunbury Cross roundabout and onto the slip road travelling the wrong way towards the A316/M3. Rose and Pardoe followed them in the Raptor, also travelling the wrong way, and collided with the bike, before fleeing the scene. On July 23, officers tracked Rose to Birmingham airport, where he was about to board a one-way flight to Istanbul with his girlfriend, Tara Knaggs.

The flight had been booked just hours before, they had a single carry-on bag between them containing a few items of clothing and more than GBP4000 in cash. Rose was arrested on suspicion of murder and Knaggs was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Pardoe was arrested the following day on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, and later charged with murder.

On Wednesday, September 10, following a four-week trial at Guildford[4] Crown Court:

• Alex Rose, 30, (03/04/1995), of Sunbury-upon-Thames, was found guilty of two counts of murder.
• Charles Pardoe, 25, (11/12/1999), of Feltham, was also found guilty of two counts of murder.
• Tara Knaggs, 25, (10/06/2000), of Great Ayton in Yorkshire, was found guilty of assisting an offender.

On Monday (September 22) they were sentenced at Guildford Crown Court:

• Alex Rose was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 34 years. He will also serve 21 months concurrently for perverting the course of justice.
• Charles Pardoe was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 29 years.
• Tara Knaggs was sentenced to three years imprisonment, to serve a minimum of one year and two months prior to being considered for licence.

Each of the defendants had their sentences marginally reduced to account for time already spent in custody prior to trial. A deprivation order was also granted for the GBP4000 cash found on Rose and Knaggs when they attempted to leave the country.

Reacting to the sentencing, William's dad said: "Today's court outcome brings a measure of justice for our son William and his friend Darren.

"While no sentence can ever undo the devastation of losing him, we take some comfort in knowing that those responsible have been held accountable. "William was not just a victim of a senseless crime -- he was our beloved son, a brother, and a friend to many. His life was filled with promise, and his loss has left a gap that will never be filled.

William had a kind heart, a bright smile, and a love for life that touched everyone who knew him. We will remember him for his laughter, his loyalty, and the joy he brought into our lives. "The past months have been an incredibly painful journey for our family.

Sitting through the trial and hearing the details of how William's life was taken has been almost unbearable. But throughout it all, we have held on to the hope that justice would prevail. Today's verdict cannot bring William back, but it does bring us some peace in knowing that the truth has been heard.

"We want to express our deepest gratitude to Surrey Police[5]. From the very first moment, their officers have shown extraordinary dedication, professionalism, and compassion. They have worked tirelessly to investigate William's murder, to uncover the truth, and to support us as a family through the most difficult time of our lives.

We will never forget their hard work and the humanity they showed us when we needed it most. "We are also grateful to the prosecution team for presenting the case with such care, to the jury for their attention and courage, and to all those who have stood by us with love and support. "As a family, our lives will never be the same.

William's absence is felt every single day, and we carry a grief that words cannot fully express. But we also carry his memory, and we will continue to honour him in the way we live our lives."

Darren's mum added: "Darren should still be with us - but he is not. A guilty verdict doesn't change the past.

Justice being served doesn't heal the loss of our son. "We have had so much support from friends and family which has been invaluable. But it is those who have shown kindness even though they do not know us who have helped support us from afar - the lorry driver that stopped, the paramedics, and the Air Ambulance crew.

"Our family have further been supported by the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and I have nothing but praise for our emergency services and encourage people, in turn, to support them. "Darren was always coming and going - he couldn't sit still. He would arrive at home with friends, repair cars with his dad, then he would then be off, and then he would be back again.

"The coming and goings have stopped. The repairs of the cars have stopped. The buzz of a busy home has stopped.

"Darren's dad is a man of few words. When he read the statement I had written for court, my husband simply uttered quietly, "I loved that boy." Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Debbie Birch, from the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, said: "My thoughts and sympathies remain, as always, with the family and friends of William Birchard and Darren George.

"Today's outcome will not change the fact that William and Darren's lives were cut so unfairly short, but I hope that their loved ones will take some small comfort from seeing justice served.

"I am grateful to the hard work of our officers and staff who worked so hard to secure these convictions."

References

1. ^ fatal collision (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
2. ^ Sunbury (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
3. ^ burglary (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
4. ^ Guildford (www.getsurrey.co.uk)
5. ^ Surrey Police (www.getsurrey.co.uk)