Barry man is cleared of murdering Vale teenager (From Barry And District News)

Barry man is cleared of murdering Vale teenager

A BARRY man has been cleared of murdering a teenager but has been sentenced to six years in a young offenders institutionfor manslaughter.

Trainee mechanic Daryl Gronow, aged 20, of Lee Road, drove his VW Golf into a group of friends in the early hours of August 14 last year.

Nineteen-year-old Craig Hopkins was forced into railings and fatally injured.

At Cardiff Crown Court Gronow admitted manslaughter but denied murdering Mr Hopkins. A statement written by Gronow was read out by his barrister, Gerard Ellis QC. He said: "I know I stand before you for sentence for a very serious offence, for which I am extremely sorry.

"My actions will live with me for the rest of my life and I know that is what I deserve.

"I want to apologise to the Hopkins family for the pain and suffering I have caused, but I know that apology will never be enough."

He said he had only intended to "scare" the group, adding: "I was revving the car and my lights were on. I assumed they would've moved out of the way but they didn't move in time."

The court heard how an argument started and Mr Hopkins and his friend Gareth Burge punched Gronow. Witnesses recalled seeing Gronow run away from the fight, before driving his red VW Golf at Mr Hopkins and his three friends Alex Cavaliere, Gareth Burge and Jason Bousie.

Taxi driver Kevin Evans told the court he saw a car accelerate and hit the group.