Taxi Driver Online

Inquest held into the death of Litherland man killed outside Bootle chip shop after argument about a sausage
Jun 25 2009 by Laura Jones, Crosby Herald

THE moments leading to Gary Jenner’s death have been relived at an inquest.

The 28-year-old from Litherland died outside Tsang’s takeaway in Bootle after a fracas broke out over a sausage.

Mr Jenner had become involved in a drunken dispute about the food with Margaret “Peggy” Kelly and her taxi driver partner Luke McCormick, who was later accused of manslaughter.

Almost two years after Judge Henry Globe QC threw that case out of Liverpool Crown Court on the grounds of contradictory evidence from witnesses, a four-day inquest is now being held to try to establish the cause of Mr Jenner’s death.

So far 20 witnesses have given evidence about the night’s events including paramedics, taxi drivers and workers and customers at the Stanley Road chip shop. Later in the week police officers and Mr McCormick will also appear before the coroner.

Already a confused picture of the night of January 14 2007 is emerging with contradictory claims about the number of police at the scene and their administration of first aid.

Witness accounts agreed that the argument between Mr McCormick and Mr Jenner started in the shop over a sausage.

The court heard that Mr Jenner swung a punch at Margaret Kelly, missing and hitting her partner Mr McCormick in the face. A brawl ensued which spilled out of the shop and onto the pavement.

Gary’s mum Christine and sister Donna are hoping that Coroner Christopher Sumner will record a verdict of unlawful killing after the 28-year-old was restrained by four or five taxi driver colleagues of Mr McCormick outside the chip shop.

The drivers had responded to a distress call put out by the control room after fellow driver Ronnie Walsh had seen a scrap between the two men and raised the alarm.

Mum Christine said: “We are hoping for closure from this inquest but we know that we’re never going to get Gary back.

“I want to get in my mind what actually happened because with the court case we never got an insight into what happened.”

Yesterday the coroners court heard evidence from 10 taxi drivers and an operator from Metro cabs where Mr McCormick and many of the drivers were employed.

Harry Owens, an operator with the firm, told the court that when he heard Mr McCormick was in a fight he put out a call for help over the company’s radio.

He said: “I heard [driver number] 84 give a ‘yellow one’, that’s the call which indicates a driver is in danger or needing help. He said Luke McCormick’s taking a hiding.”

Mr Owens relayed the message and between six and 10 hackney cabs arrived at the Stanley Road chip shop.

Raymond McCormick, Mr McCormick’s taxi driver brother was one of those to respond.

Yesterday under cross examination by solicitor Caroline Ashcroft he was asked about the first aid given by police officers to Mr Jenner.

He replied: “He wasn’t in the recovery position. I saw him being moved to the ambulance and being worked on – I didn’t see him in the recovery position.”

CCTV footage of the night’s events were shown to the court. Mr Jenner’s family broke down when images of paramedics arriving at the scene were shown.

Gary, a construction worker who had just become engaged to fiancee Michelle, had shared a litre of vodka with best friend Michael Cole at Sullivan’s nightclub in Bootle on the night he died.

Mr Cole, who had known Mr Jenner for 15 years, told the court that the pair were so close they were more like brothers and would often share each other’s clothes.

After being told the news of her boyfriend’s death Michelle snubbed Mr Cole at the Jenner family home in Litherland.

He added: “I can’t think how this happened after such a good night out.”

The inquest continues.

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

This really is a sad tale.

And I hope folks can move on with their lives when the inquest is over.

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IDFIMH

There is always a good side to everything.... he is no longer a taxi-driver.....But the bad side is..... he is now a Hackney Inspector......

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!