A 20-year-old man from the Midlands has been jailed after throwing a brick that struck and killed his own father.
A Fatal Confrontation in Newark
Thomas Dear Junior hurled the brick through the open window of his father's van in Newark, Nottinghamshire, in June. The projectile hit Thomas Dear Senior on the head. Although the injured man managed to drive away from the scene, he later suffered a cardiac arrest at the roadside and died.
A post-mortem examination conclusively linked the head injury from the brick to the cardiac seizure that caused the 50-year-old's death.
Claims of Self-Defence and a Heated Argument
During proceedings at Nottingham Crown Court, the son claimed he had acted in self-defence. He stated his father had driven the vehicle towards him, prompting him to throw the brick in an attempt to stop the van.
Police evidence revealed the pair had been involved in a prolonged argument captured on CCTV prior to the fatal incident. The footage showed the younger Dear throwing pieces of a broken plant pot at his father, who then approached his son while wielding a garden fork.
Thomas Dear Junior denied a charge of murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Justice Served and a Family's Loss
On Monday, the court sentenced Dear to 3 years and 4 months in a young offenders’ institution.
Detective Chief Inspector Ruby Burrow, of Nottinghamshire Police, led the investigation. She said: “Whilst Dear may not have set out to intentionally kill his father, his dangerous and deliberate actions have resulted in the most devastating and irreversible of consequences.”
She added: “The impact on Mr Dear's family and friends has been simply immeasurable, having to endure the loss of a loved one in such sudden and traumatic circumstances. I hope the conclusion of this investigation and subsequent court process will help to bring some closure.”
DCI Burrow also thanked the investigation team and witnesses whose testimonies were vital in securing justice for the victim.
