A motorist who showed "utter callousness" by deliberately running over and killing a Good Samaritan has been handed a life sentence with a minimum of 14 years behind bars.
The tragic incident unfolded on Stanley Road in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, when 41-year-old Christopher Vose stopped to assist a woman who was lying distressed in the roadway.
A Deliberate and Deadly Act
As Vose performed his selfless act of kindness, motorist Joseph Brown, 31, became enraged after his car was temporarily blocked. Prosecutors revealed that Brown deliberately mounted the pavement and accelerated directly into Mr Vose, who was thrown into the air and suffered catastrophic injuries.
"You drove directly at him," the judge told Brown during sentencing. "You showed utter callousness as you drove away from the scene."
Family's Heartbreaking Loss
Christopher Vose's family paid emotional tribute to "a loving son, brother, uncle and friend who would do anything for anyone." They described how his life was brutally cut short while performing an act of pure kindness.
The court heard that Brown fled the scene immediately after the attack, showing no remorse for his actions. He was later arrested and charged with murder, though he ultimately pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Justice Served
Detective Chief Inspector Liam Boden of Greater Manchester Police stated: "Christopher Vose was simply trying to help another human being in distress. Brown's actions were deliberate, dangerous and ultimately fatal."
The sentencing brings some closure to a case that highlights both the best and worst of human nature - the selflessness of a Good Samaritan contrasted with the brutal violence that cost him his life.
