Son jailed for killing father minutes after meeting him

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 17:44 · Archive

Martin Greensmith, 37, was jailed for six years for killing his father Steven Shevels, 61, whom he had never met before a chance encounter at a pub on Christmas Eve.

Martin Greensmith, 37, was jailed for six years at Teesside Crown Court for killing his father Steven Shevels, 61. The two had never met until Christmas Eve, when Greensmith's mother identified Shevels at the Queen's Head pub in Willington, County Durham, where the family had gathered for the festive season.

Greenssmith did not want to speak to Shevels and told him: 'You're my dad, but I don't want to know you.' Shevels was later asked to leave the pub because he was drunk. When Shevels followed Greensmith outside into the beer garden, another argument ensued. Greensmith delivered what the Daily Mail describes as a 'powerful and aggressive push' to Shevels' upper body, causing him to fall and strike his head on the concrete floor. One witness described the sound as 'like dropping a coconut on concrete.'

Greensmith and others attempted to help Shevels, and paramedics worked on him for more than an hour, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

How it is being reported

• Son who killed his father in beer garden on Christmas Eve shortly after meeting him for the first time jailed for six yearsMartin Greensmith, 37, had never met his father until a chance encounter during a Christmas drinks party.Daily Mail · 23 Oct, 17:20
• Son jailed after killing dad 'within minutes of meeting him for first time' during pub tripMartin Greensmith, 37, knew his dad's name but had never actually met Steven Shevels, 61, until a chance encounter last Christmas Eve. The Greensmith family went to a pub to see in the festive season, but Mr Shevels was also thereThe Mirror · 23 Oct, 16:21

In this story: Martin Greensmith · Steven Shevels · Queen's Head · Willington · County Durham · Teesside Crown Court

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