Man found guilty of the manslaughter of Kirk Marsden in Blackburn

A man has been found guilty of killing Kirk Marsden in Blackburn.

Just after 4.30pm on Christmas Day 2024, Kirk (pictured) was in The Gate Street Bar and Grill when an altercation occurred with a group including the defendant, James Ward.

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.

When Kirk emerged from the pub, the Landcruiser was deliberately driven at Kirk, 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. He then drove them to a carpark in nearby Brindle Street.

Ward and his associate got into another 4x4 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 Boxing Day afternoon.

James Ward handed himself in at Greenbank Police Station on 28th December. 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.

Ward was today unanimously found guilty of Kirk’s manslaughter following a two-week trial at Preston Crown Court.

He will be sentenced at the same court on 6th March and was remanded in custody by Judge Graham Knowles KC.

DCI Bryony Midgley, of the Force Major Investigation Team, said: “Firstly, I want to thank the jury for their considered verdict and my investigation team for their diligent efforts in putting together a strong evidential case that left the jury in no doubt that James Ward was responsible for killing Kirk.

“Ward escalated the earlier incident by engaging in an atrocious level of violence which left all those who witnessed it absolutely horrified. This should have been a quiet family drink on Christmas Day, but instead Kirk never made it home to his family due to unnecessary mindless violence. Egregious behaviour of this kind has no place on the streets of Lancashire, and I am pleased that Ward has now been brought to justice.

“Finally, my thoughts remain with Kirk’s loved ones who will hopefully now be able to begin the process of rebuilding their lives.”