Man jailed six years for pushing father to death in pub

Summarised from 2 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 23 Oct, 17:03 · Archive

Martin Greensmith has been jailed for six years after pushing his father Steven Shevels to his death in a pub beer garden on Christmas Eve.

Martin Greensmith, 37, has been jailed for six years for manslaughter after pushing his father Steven Shevels, 61, to his death at the Queen's Head in Willington on Christmas Eve. Greensmith had only learnt that Shevels was his biological father shortly before the encounter, when his mother told him during the pub visit. Shevels had been asked to leave the pub after becoming a nuisance to the Greensmith family. He was then pushed over by Greensmith in the beer garden, hitting his head on the concrete floor.

Judge Jonathan Carroll said Greensmith became immediately angry and aggressive when told Shevels was his father. CCTV footage showed Greensmith's reaction and later showed him smashing a beer glass in the garden. The judge said Greensmith could have returned to the pub without incident but instead approached Shevels as he stood outside smoking. The jury rejected Greensmith's claim that he was acting in self-defence, with the judge stating Shevels "was presenting absolutely no threat" and "was not a violent man". A pathologist told the court that Shevels suffered cardiac arrest whilst unconscious, with his death caused by the fall rather than any underlying heart condition. In a victim impact statement, Shevels' daughter Chloe described her father as a "quiet and timid man" who loved nature and rock music, saying she only learnt of his death "through gossip from other people when I was opening presents".

How it is being reported

• Family says Christmas will never be the same after dad killed in pub beer gardenSteven Shevels’ family say Christmas will never be the same after his death in a Willington pub beer garden. Son Martin Greensmith jailed for manslaughter.The Northern Echo · 23 Oct, 17:02
• Man sentenced for killing his dad in pub gardenMartin Greensmith only learnt Steven Shevels was his father shortly before the encounter, a court hears.BBC Tees · 23 Oct, 16:47
• Man who pushed father to his death in Willington pub beer garden jailed for six yearsMartin Greensmith has been jailed for six years for manslaughter after pushing his father Steven Shevels to his death at a Willington pub on Christmas Eve.The Northern Echo · 23 Oct, 15:16
• Live coverage of man being sentenced for Christmas Eve manslaughter of fatherLive coverage of Willington man, Martin Greensmith, as he is sentenced for the manslaughter of his father Steven Shevels.The Northern Echo · 23 Oct, 14:15
• Willington man to be sentenced after push killed his father in pub on Christmas EveMartin Greensmith, convicted of manslaughter after pushing his father Steven Shevels to his death at a Willington pub, is due to be sentenced today.The Northern Echo · 23 Oct, 08:45

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

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem