Yahoo News Hebden Bridge murder accused admits manslaughter of half brother
A man has admitted killing his half-brother in an attack in Hebden Bridge earlier this year.
Kyan McWhir, 31, was initially charged with murder but at his appearance at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday, pleaded guilty to the alternative charge of manslaughter, which was accepted by the prosecution.
McWhir, of Vernon Place in Todmorden, appeared tearful in the dock as he formally entered his guilty plea to unlawfully killing 52-year-old John McWhir on July 29. John died in hospital following an attack in Crown Street, Hebden Bridge. It was reported at the time that he had suffered serious head injuries in the incident and he died in hospital two days later.
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McWhir’s guilty plea means that it can now be reported that back in 2015 he was jailed for six years for causing the death of a newly-married father in a hit-and-run collision in Hebden Bridge. Retired prison officer Chris Smith, 63, suffered multiple injuries when he was hit by McWhir’s speeding Volkswagen Polo as he tried to cross Albert Street.
Bradford Crown Court heard back in July 2015 that McWhir, who had recently passed his driving test, had bought the VW Polo just weeks before the fatal collision in October 2014. After hitting Mr Smith McWhir drove on demolishing a street sign before ignoring the shouts from members of the public and running off.
He was later arrested by police and said: ”I panicked and ran off. I’m sorry.” McWhir was later jailed after pleading guilty to a charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Today, Wednesday, November 27, McWhir’s barrister Michelle Colborne KC said she had a full psychological report from a doctor which would be sufficient to assist in sentencing him next month after admitting manslaughter. She added: “It is accepted it’s to be a prison sentence."
The Recorder of Bradford Judge Jonathan Rose explained that McWhir would be sentenced by Judge Jonathan Gibson on December 9 and he was being remanded back into custody until that date. He told McWhir “You’ve pleaded guilty to the offence of manslaughter and the prosecution will accept that plea and you’ll be sentenced for that offence.
"You know that a custodial sentence is inevitable but it will be up to Judge Gibson to consider the length of that sentence.”
