Sutton Coldfield hit and run murder: Witnesses tell of victim's last moments
A BIRTHDAY party at a Birmingham pub ended in horror yesterday as a maniac driver ploughed into revellers then did a handbrake turn and ran over his victims a second time.
Antony Stephen Ames, 21, was killed, and two others were injured in the incident outside the Place 2B pub in Chester Road, Sutton Coldfield in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Stunned eye-witnesses said it was like a scene from a violent movie or TV cop show – and police mounted a murder hunt.
Mr Ames was pronounced dead at hospital and another man was last night said to be fighting for life. A third person was hurt but his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
Ploughed
Witnesses said a brawl had broken out between two groups of drinkers at a birthday party in the pub. They moved outside and one group dispersed, leaving the others standing on a grass verge.
Minutes later, a green Citroen C4 raced up and ploughed into the group on the verge.
Michael Webber, 18, who was standing outside the pub when the incident happened at 1.30am, said: “It was like something out of a film. I couldn’t believe I was seeing it.”
He said the car had come racing down Court Lane, opposite the pub, and run straight into the group.
The driver had then driven away but pulled a handbrake turn and raced back into the group of about five people, hitting them a second time.
The car then sped off along Chester Road.
“You just don’t expect something like that to happen in real life,” said Mr Webber.
“I’ve only ever seen stuff like that on the television.”
Alex Bellerby, 18, who was drinking with Mr Webber, said: “We went over to see if we could help but you could tell the one guy was dead.
“Another man had been paralysed by the blow of the car and seemed to be hysterical.
“He was lying there, laughing and talking like normal, but he said he couldn’t move his legs. It must have been the adrenaline or shock, or something.”
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