James Ward has been jailed for the ‘senseless killing’ that took place in 2024
A man who mowed down a devoted dad on Christmas Day has been jailed for 13 years. Kirk Marsden died in hospital on Boxing Day in 2024 after being dragged under the Toyota Landcruiser driven by James Ward in Blackburn.
The men had argued in the Gate Street Bar and Grill before the fatal collision, which happened outside. Preston Crown Court heard how Kirk had gone to the pub with family when the row broke out over a gold chain, shortly after 4pm. During this altercation, a member of Ward’s group suffered an injury to his lip and tooth.
Ward and his group left the pub on Livesey Branch Road and got into a Toyota Landcruiser which was parked outside on Moorgate Street. Ward got into the front passenger seat of the vehicle and one of his associates got into the driver’s seat, Lancs Live reports.
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When Kirk emerged from the pub, the Landcruiser was deliberately driven at him, but he managed to jump out of the way on that occasion. Ward then got into the driver’s seat of the Landcruiser and reversed it down towards where one of his group was on the pavement with Kirk.
As Kirk headed back towards the pub, Ward deliberately struck him with the Landcruiser before reversing back over the injured victim. Ward stopped to let his associate get back into the car before driving them to a carpark in nearby Brindle Street.
Ward and his associate got into another 4×4 car, drove back up to Moorgate Street, stopped alongside Kirk for six seconds and then drove off. Kirk, 37, suffered catastrophic internal injuries and died on the following afternoon.
James Ward handed himself in at Greenbank Police Station on December 28. He answered no comment to all questions put to him in interview.
Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service, Ward, 27, now of no fixed address but formerly of New Wellington Street, Blackburn, was charged with Kirk’s killing.
In November, he was unanimously found guilty of Kirk’s manslaughter following a two-week trial at Preston Crown Court. He was also convicted of causing death whilst driving without insurance.
Appearing at the same court today (March 6) Judge Graham Knowles KC also disqualified Ward from driving for 11 years and 11 months. He must also take an extended re-test.
In an impact statement to the court, Kirk’s mum Evelyn wrote: “I never imagined I would be standing here today, writing this. In just 14 months, I’ve lost both my husband and now my youngest, Kirk, who was tragically taken from us. The pain is beyond words. I’m broken. My heart is shattered.
“I still can’t come to terms with what happened. Since the day I got the phone call to say Kirk was gone, my world has fallen apart. It’s a living nightmare. I relive it every single day. I can’t sleep, I constantly shake, and I’ve become terrified to leave the house. I don’t answer the door anymore. When I do go out, I can’t stop shaking, and I’m never able to go out on my own. The trauma has completely taken over my life.
“What makes it harder is that it happened over Christmas, a time meant for family, joy and love. On Christmas Day, I got a call that something terrible had happened, and by Boxing Day, we had lost Kirk. Christmas will never be the same for our family. What should be a time of togetherness and happiness is now forever marked by heartbreak.
“Kirk was more than just my son, he was my baby boy, the youngest of my children. He used to call me every single day and would visit nearly every other day. The bond we had was unbreakable. I still find myself expecting him to knock on my door. The silence now is overwhelming.
“He was a devoted father. He lived for his children and loved them so deeply. My heart aches for my grandchildren, who will now grow up without their dad. Kirk had his whole life ahead of him, and it was taken far too soon.”
Kirk’s partner Leanne wrote in her statement: “Our whole lives have been destroyed, we are broken and struggling to cope with day to day living, we have lost our rock, our hero, all we have left are memories.”
She continued: “Christmas will never be the same again, we won’t be able to celebrate like we did; we will always have a constant reminder of how senseless it was in how Kirk was taken from us.”
DCI Bryony Midgley, of our Force Major Investigation Team, said: “James Ward killed Kirk Marsden in a senseless act of violence that has no place on the streets of Lancashire.
“While no sentence can ever make up for a life that has been taken, I hope Kirk’s family take some solace knowing that the man responsible for the death of their loved one is being held accountable for his actions through this significant sentence.”
