Drug-driver murdered young woman, 22, in hit-and-run near Oswestry takeaway

A motorist who drank 10 shots and took cocaine before driving has been found guilty of murdering a 22-year-old woman after a hit-and-run near a takeaway in Shropshire.

Stephen McHugh who has never had a driving license has been found guilty of killing Rebecca Steer by using his car as a weapon to drive into a crowd of pedestrians near a takeaway in Oswestry.

A two-week trial at Stafford Crown Court was told bystander Rebecca Steer was crushed underneath the vehicle and died of “catastrophic” injuries.

Jurors deliberated for more than eight-and-a-half hours over three days before convicting McHugh by majority 11-1 verdicts of murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

McHugh, originally from Fazakerley in Liverpool, told the court he had drunk six beers and 10 double shots of spirits, and taken up to seven lines of cocaine, before his Volvo mounted a footpath outside a takeaway in Oswestry last October.

The 28-year-old swore as he was found guilty of murder and walked quickly out of the dock before a verdict was returned on the second charge.

Stephen McHugh was found guilty eight minutes after the jury panel was given a majority direction by trial judge Mr Justice Andrew Baker.

At the start of the hearing, prosecutor Kevin Hegarty KC said McHugh was driving a gold-coloured Volvo in Willow Street at about 2.45am on Sunday October 9 last year.

CCTV shown to the court captured McHugh stopping in the road and exchanging words with a group of people near the Grill Out takeaway.

Mr Hegarty told the court: “At that moment Rebecca Steer was crossing Willow Street.

“All of a sudden, as she was crossing, the Volvo shot backwards. It narrowly missed her.”

Jurors were told Rebecca Steer managed to get out of the way of the car and made her way to the pavement on the opposite side of Willow Street.

Mr Hegarty added: “At that moment Mr McHugh turned the steering wheel in the direction of the people on the pavement and then he drove on to the pavement towards that group of people.

“The driver’s side of the car went on to the kerb, on to the footpath, and he proceeded to drive through the group.

“We say he used his car as a weapon – he used the power and the weight of the car to strike the group.”

McHugh’s vehicle hit three people, the court heard, including two men who were “knocked aside” by the front wing.

Mr Hegarty told the court: “Rebecca Steer was more towards the front of the car and as the car increased its speed – as it went through the group, she was dragged down under the car.”

“You may well think the way he reversed the car, which was at speed and without regard to those around him, gives a clear insight into what he was thinking and what he intended to do.

“We say that was to strike his target whoever it was. We don’t suggest Rebecca Steer was his target – she was in effect a bystander.”

McHugh was arrested on Monday October 10 in Gobowen, Shropshire, and claimed he “didn’t mean to hit anyone”.

Shortly before the alleged murder, the court heard, a man who was searching the boot of a car in Oswestry was left with a bloody nose by McHugh, in an incident the prosecution said showed he had previously “got involved in violence”.

McHugh told the trial that he was not angry with the group and had reversed to get alongside them to pick up a friend.

“I am not an angry person,” he told the jury. “I didn’t really think about it. It was a moment of stupidity.”

McHugh was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on Friday.