Conway family weep with relief at manslaughter verdict

Oct 16 2008 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Michael Conway, who always called his son Francis, said: “I look at a photo of Francis every day and I always will.”

During the trial the jury heard how Coleman, Lee and Nichols had been in a car on Canal Road, Bradford, smoking cannabis.

They saw Mr Conway and a friend setting fire to a postbox in a bid to destroy a letter Mr Conway had sent to an ex-girlfriend.

It was in response to the fire that the defendants chased Mr Conway with the pickaxe handle and into the path of the truck.

Despite the efforts of doctors Mr Conway died of severe head injuries sustained in the collision.

Coleman, Lee and Nichols all denied the manslaughter charge, saying they were not involved in the incident.

But the jury found their case to be lies and returned guilty verdicts for all three men.

The trio were released on bail and will be sentenced by Mr Justice Cranston on November 7.