Aston Villa fan murder: Relief for family as man jailed for life
THE family of murdered Aston Villa fan Christopher Priest today praised a jury for “seeing through all the lies” of his killer, Lee Mockble.
As Mockble, aged 21, began a life sentence, they said they now had to try to rebuild their lives without their son. Mr Priest, aged 26, of New Oscott, was mown down and killed by a Volkswagen Golf driven by Mockble, of Robin Hood Lane, Hall Green.
He had been walking in Aston Hall Road near Villa Park after watching Aston Villa beat Birmingham City 5-1 on April 20. The jury heard that Mockble used his car as a “lethal weapon in a dreadful act of revenge” after it had been damaged by a group of football fans who threw a pint glass at it.
Just two months earlier, Mockble had bought the 1.9 litre car on finance for £10,000.
After a two-week trial, the jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court found Mockble guilty of murder.
Judge John Warner sentenced him to life in prison and ordered him to serve a minimum of 12 years.
Speaking outside court, Mr Priest’s dad, Lee, explained why justice for their son was so important.
Mr Priest said: “He showed no respect for others.
“At some point Mockble’s parents will get their son back which is something forever denied to us.
“At least we can say we have sought justice for Christopher.
“We can now start to try and rebuild our lives, sadly, without out son.”
He also thanked the jury for “seeing through all of Mockble’s lies” after he had wept in the witness box while giving evidence.
He had claimed he was seeking medical help for one of the occupants in the car who was injured when the pint glass hit the vehicle.
Dramatic scenes ensued in the moments after the verdict and sentence was read out.
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