04 May 2023 , 16:52
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A drunk and drugged up driver stormed out the dock and branded a jury "pieces of sh*t" as he was found guilty of murdering a young woman who was crushed to death by his car.
Stephen McHugh murdered Rebecca Steer after he mounted the pavement and crashed into a group of people outside a takeaway in Oswestry, Shropshire.
McHugh, from Fazakerley, Liverpool, admitted to the court he had drunk alcohol and taken drugs before climbing behind the wheel.
The 28-year-old said he had had six beers, 10 double shots of spirit, and snorted seven lines of cocaine before his Volvo mounted the footpath on October 9 last year.
Jurors at Stafford Crown Court 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.
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Rebecca Steer, 22, was crushed to death (West Mercia Police / SWNS)McHugh swore as he was found guilty of murder and walked quickly out of the dock before a verdict was returned on the second charge.
Alongside killing Rebecca, McHugh also seriously injured Kyle Roberts.
The Advertiser reported that in court, McHugh claimed he had only intended to just “scare” the group of people outside the Grill Out takeaway.
McHugh, who didn’t have a driver’s licence, is said to have only bought the car two weeks prior and admitted manslaughter but had denied murder during the trial.
Grill Out in Willow Street, Oswestry, where fatal crash happened on Oct 9 2022 (BPM MEDIA)Rebecca had been an innocent caught up in the horror smash and was thought to have been dragged under the car before McHugh fled the scene.
She died two hours later in hospital.
There were two passengers in McHugh’s car, with one saying he fled because he feared for his own safety after the incident.
McHugh is due to be sentenced tomorrow.