Martin Greensmith, 37, has been jailed for six years after being found guilty of manslaughter for pushing his biological father, Steven Shevels, to the ground outside a pub on Christmas Eve, causing his death.
Greensmith was at the Queen's Head pub in Willington, Co Durham, with his family on December 24 last year when his mother told him for the first time that Mr Shevels was his biological father. Mr Shevels, 61, who had been drinking, arrived at the pub while Greensmith was with his family and had several exchanges with them before being pushed to the ground in the beer garden, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Push in the beer garden
Judge Jonathan Carroll told the court that Greensmith became "immediately angry and aggressive" after Mr Shevels said something he "objected to". Later, when both men were outside, Greensmith approached Mr Shevels and delivered a "powerful and aggressive push" to his upper body, causing him to immediately fall and hit his head on the concrete floor.
Greensmith was among several people who tried to help Mr Shevels, but he left the pub shortly before emergency services arrived. Despite the efforts of paramedics, Mr Shevels was pronounced dead at the scene.
Arrest and trial
Greensmith was arrested on Christmas Day after returning to his home in Willington. Durham Police said Greensmith had spent an hour on his mobile phone searching online for solicitors and looking at a page about involuntary manslaughter following the incident.
Greensmith admitted pushing the 61-year-old but denied manslaughter. Following a seven-day trial at Teesside Crown Court, a jury found him guilty and he has now been jailed for six years. Judge Carroll said: "The jury, rightly in my view, rejected your assertion of self-defence. Mr Shevels … was presenting absolutely no risk or threat to you."
Family impact statements
In a victim impact statement read in court, Mr Shevels' daughter Chloe Shevels said her father was "a quiet and timid man" who loved nature and rock music. She said: "He died on Christmas Eve. I found out through gossip from other people when I was opening presents. I now dread the thought of Christmas."
Mr Shevels' sister Angela Thompson said he was "the victim of an unprovoked and selfish act of violence, which took his life and took him from us far too soon". She said: "It's bad enough this happened, but for it to have happened on Christmas Eve makes it a lot worse. Christmas is supposed to be a time of happiness and togetherness. Well, that's been taken away from us now."
In mitigation, the court heard Greensmith was "genuinely remorseful" and had experienced "significant emotional distress" and intrusive thoughts since the incident. A pre-sentence report said he may have felt "overwhelmed" by the fact that Mr Shevels was his biological father, and that this was the first and only time he had met him, when he was "drunk and unpleasant to his family".
Following his conviction, Detective Chief Inspector Alfie Keane, of Durham Constabulary, who led the investigation, said: "This is a truly devastating case. It shows how split-second decisions can have life-long consequences and an unimaginable impact on everyone around them. Our thoughts remain with Steven's family and friends at this difficult time."
