A DAD and two sons have been jailed over the death of a man in broad daylight in Shard End.
Lee O’Brien, 51, and sons Luke, 36, and Lewis, 31, ambushed Darren Smith outside Heath Way shops on March 15 last year.
The 51-year-old had been to a phone shop to buy a new mobile phone case when he was repeatedly kicked, punched and hit with a wrench.
Two Rolex watches were also stolen from Darren’s wrist and staff at the shop were threatened before the three men fled in their cars.
West Midlands Police said Darren walked unsteadily out of the shop, before collapsing nearby.
Residents gave Darren first aid until emergency services arrived, but he sadly died at the scene.
Lee O’Brien and his two sons Luke and Lewis were arrested the following day after they fled to Torquay.
West Midlands Police say they borrowed a car from a friend to travel down in so that they could evade police, but they were arrested after we traced the car they were travelling in.
In September Lee O’Brien, 51, Luke O’Brien, 36 and Lewis O’Brien 31, all pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court.
Last week Lewis O’Brien and Luke O’Brien were both jailed for 12-and-a-half-years and Lee O’Brien was jailed for 11 years and eight months.
Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood from our Homicide Team, said: “We know that Lee, Luke and Lewis all knew Darren. They robbed him but claimed that they did not intend to kill him.
“My thoughts remain with Mr Smith’s family at this distressing time, I hope that these sentences bring them some sense of justice being done.”
Darren’s family previously released this tribute: “We as a family are devastated at the loss of our son Darren.
“He was a caring man and was loved by all who knew him. He was tragically taken from us and this has left a huge void in our lives.”
