Michael Burrows KC and Olivia Whitworth have successfully prosecuted John McDonald for causing the death of Suzanne Cherry, who was fatally injured whilst playing golf with her husband at Aston Wood Golf Club. John McDonald was the driver of a van which crashed into her there. He and his son, Johnny McDonald, and another man, Brett Delaney, were involved in a roofing fraud, targeted at elderly householders, whom they pressured into agreeing to roofing work. They charged exorbitant prices for unnecessary and defective repairs.
On the day of the fatal collision, they came to the attention of the police whilst in their van following a householder to the bank to see that she withdrew money for them. During the subsequent chase, John McDonald drove the van at high speed and dangerously through residential areas, colliding with several vehicles. The pursuit ended when he drove onto the golf course. Investigations showed that in the seconds before the fatal collision he was driving the van at over 40mph on the first fairway. He lost control of the van on the approach to a stream before the first green. Following the collision, the three men ran off together, John McDonald stepping over Suzanne Cherry as he escaped.
John McDonald was sentenced to a total of 13½ years’ imprisonment. For their parts in the fraud, Johnny McDonald was sentenced to 32 months’ imprisonment and Brett Delaney to 28 months’ imprisonment.
Police-chase van driver jailed for killing golfer – BBCNews
Rogue roofer who ran over and killed woman on golf course during police chase jailed – Independent
