Bestwood meat cleaver killing was 'justified', says coroner


A FATHER who killed a burglar by attacking him with a meat cleaver was "justified", a Notts coroner has ruled.

Steven Shaw and his brother Craig broke into a house in Morrell Bank on the Bestwood Estate on March 31 last year.

In a "harrowing and brutal" attack, which lasted between 10 and 15 minutes, they assaulted taxi driver Xiaopeng Wang and his wife, and also left the couple's baby injured.

The violence only stopped when Mr Wang found a meat clever and hit Mr Shaw with it, causing a "sharp force trauma" to his head.

At Mr Shaw's inquest yesterday, Notts Coroner Mairin Casey recorded a verdict of lawful killing and said: "The defensive action taken by Mr Wang was proportionate and justified.

"This was a harrowing and brutal experience for all of them, and I understand they are still traumatised."

She also said that the attack was "random" – the Shaw brothers had never before met the Wangs – and that the motive for the break-in was a financial one.

The court heard that Steven Shaw, 32, originally from Cedar Road, Forest Fields, punched Mrs Wang in the face and she was forced her to watch as her husband was assaulted.

Toxicology reports found traces of cocaine and alcohol in Mr Shaw's bloodstream.

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