Man guilty of murdering footballer after driving van into crowd in Ilkeston

A man has been found guilty of murder after driving a van into a crowd of people on a Christmas night out and killing one.

A jury took 20 hours of deliberating to convict Zac Newman guilty by a majority of 10 to two of causing the death of Sam Wilson.

Wilson, 26, died after Newman deliberately drove into the group of people in Ilkeston market place during the early hours of December 16 last year.

Wilson, who was a talented Derbyshire footballer, suffered “catastrophic” injuries following the collision.

Two other people suffered non-fatal injuries and despite attempts to save Mr Wilson, he died at the site of the collision just after 2am.

Newman, of The Crescent, Stapleford, Nottinghamshire, was found guilty of murder, one count of wounding with intent and one count of attempted wounding with intent at Derby Crown Court.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Croome, of East Midlands Special Operations Unit, said: “Zac Newman used a van as a weapon, and in a drug-fuelled rage drove into a crowd of people who were just stood gathered after enjoying a night out in Ilkeston.

“His completely reckless and irresponsible actions that night has led to heart-breaking devastation for Sam’s family, and our thoughts remain with them at this time.”

Derbyshire Police said Newman, 27, had been drinking and taking cocaine just hours before, and then did not stop after the collision but drove back home where he was arrested by officers.

The defendant, of The Crescent, Stapleford, Nottingham, had denied murdering Mr Wilson, of Long Eaton, and seriously injuring the two other men.

Judge Shaun Smith KC adjourned the sentencing saying: “It is a life sentence but it is a case of the tariff (how many years it will be until Newman is eligible to apply for parole).”

After the verdicts were delivered, Newman admitted the killing put him in breach of a suspended sentence, imposed at Nottingham Crown Court in March 2022, for dealing drugs.

• Pictures of the scene from Ashley Kirk

On the first day of the trial, more than two weeks ago, relatives of Mr Wilson, who was a member of the Curzon Football Club and also a Derby County season ticket holder, wept openly as CCTV footage was shown during the opening remarks by prosecutor John Lloyd Jones KC.

Mr Lloyd-Jones said that Newman had "made up his mind" to get into his van and "continue the violent confrontation he had started" following an afternoon of drinking and gradually getting angrier in a series of pubs.

"He drove from the car park in Pimlico, mounted the corner and headed towards the Market Inn", Mr Lloyd-Jones told the court.

"He drove directly towards the group of people, at not more than nine to 10mph. He had ample opportunity to avoid them and ample opportunity to stop the van but he chose not to, although he braked slightly and then drove on. People were knocked over."

Earlier, Mr Lloyd-Jones told the court that Newman had finished work at about 1.30pm ahead of Christmas and headed to the Half Moon, at Burton Road, in Littleover, where he had a couple of pints.

He left there and went to the Man of Iron pub in Stapleford for a couple of hours where he had three pints of beer, two vodkas and two shots, before heading home to get changed and go out again to the Midland Hotel where he stayed from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Newman then headed into Ilkeston town centre, parked his white van in the Pimlico car park and headed for The Harrow pub before moving on to the Market Inn at about 10.40pm.

Between then and 2am, Mr Lloyd-Jones said that Newman drank "five doubles, two shots and snorted cocaine on five occasions".

Mr Lloyd-Jones also said that witnesses had stated that Newman was angry and on one occasion around midnight confronted customer Harry Quinn in the toilets and later slapped him in the face with his left hand when Mr Quinn tackled him about the initial confrontation.

Newman also became increasingly agitated after a girl he knew, and who he was "chatting to and flirting with" and who he tried to kiss, was paid attention by another male called Quinn Raeside.

Door staff reacted and ushered Mr Raeside towards the entrance.

Mr Lloyd-Jones said: "It should have been all over at this point but Newman decided to follow Quinn Raeside and finding him in the foyer, provoked another confrontation.

They both exited the Market Inn and congregated in groups outside in the Market Place.

"It should still have been an end to it but Newman sought out Mr Raeside and punched him in the face and he was also knocked to the floor. A fight ensued and another bystander was punched who tried to calm the situation down."

Mr Lloyd-Jones said Newman was escorted out of the Market Place by three people and he headed to his van, which he said he "deliberately drove to the Market Place" and "headed directly into the group".

He added: "Newman was not after the quickest and most direct route, he was after revenge."

Mr Rowley "had a lucky escape", according to Mr Lloyd-Jones, after he was knocked over by the van and received cuts and grazes and bruises to his left ankle.

Mr Cardwell was knocked of his feet, hit his head on the paving and suffered a gash to the back of his head requiring 10 stitches.

But Mr Lloyd-Jones said Mr Wilson was knocked down, Newman drove over him and dragged him along the Market Place under the vehicle, as he gathered speed, depositing him at the top of South Street.

Paramedics attended and did all they could to save him but Mr Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene.

He suffered multiple injuries but the cause of death was trauma to the chest which fractured his rib cage and caused his lungs to collapse.

Mr Lloyd-Jones said that Newman drove home, where he was arrested shortly afterwards by police officers.

He was interviewed five times without making any comment and then finally made a statement admitting that he drove the vehicle but that he was unaware he had struck anyone and had no intention of killing or wounding anyone.

He concluded his opening statement by saying: "Mr Wilson's death was totally unnecessary, he did not need to die. There is no dispute that he was driving and the driving was the cause of the death.

"Zac Newman must have seen that group of people in the path of the van and he cannot not have seen them. We say that his only intention was to deliberately drive into that group with consequences that were obvious and inevitable.”

Newman is due to be sentenced at a later date.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...