Hit and run driver jailed for killing five-year-old boy 12 years ago

A man has been sentenced to nine years in prison for killing a five-year-old boy in Manchester 12 years ago.

Nawnee Mackin, 35, of Astbury Avenue, Manchester was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, and banned from driving for 10 years, at Manchester Crown Square.

Five-year-old Sam Walker was knocked down and killed while crossing the road with his family in February 2003. He was walking with his mum, 12-year-old sister, and five-year-old cousin after buying items for a family picnic from a nearby shop.

As the family reached the centre of the road, Nawnee Mackin, who was travelling in a silver Mitsubishi Gallant, came speeding towards them in the middle of the road.

Samuel's mother put her arms out to try and push the children back. She screamed at the driver of the car to stop but Mackin ignored her desperate cries and made no attempt to stop.

The car only just missed most of the family but as she turned to watch the car drive past, Samuel's mother saw that the car had hit Samuel. She screamed for help as she ran to her son.

Ambulance staff attempted to revive Samuel at the scene before he was rushed to Wythenshawe hospital where he was pronounced dead.

He would have celebrated his 18th birthday in March of this year.

After failing to stop at the scene, witnesses describe seeing the car speed through the nearby Merseybank Estate to Riverside Walk where police found it abandoned on a footpath.

Almost three hours after the collision, the owner of the Mitsubishi Gallant involved in the incident, Craig Chevelleau, contacted police to report the car stolen.

Chevelleau claimed that he had been out to collect some shopping for his mother but had forgotten what she asked him to get so he pulled up on Yew Tree Road to use a nearby phone box to ring her. Whilst he was at the phone box, he saw his car being driven off by an unknown offender using the keys which had been left in the vehicle.

Rather than immediately report it stolen, Chevelleau claimed that he thought it was a friend of his joking around so went home to get his bicycle before riding around the Moss Side area of Manchester looking for the car.

Chevelleau will be sentenced at a later date, having previously been found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

Despite an extensive investigation into the incident at the time, traffic officers were unable to identify the driver of the car.

In September 2012, the investigation into the death of Sam was reopened and, after a widespread investigation, police were finally able to identify Mackin as the driver.