Clubber who ran over and killed his own friend after fight is jailed for life 

A nightclub-goer who drove at a group of people aiming for a man he’d been fighting with – but ended up hitting and killing his own friend – has been jailed for life. 

Jonathan Snape ploughed into people outside The Salisbury Club near Stockport on May 27, causing fatal injuries to his friend Nathan Marshall.

The 30-year-old was today found guilty of murder and attempted murder and will serve at least 24 years before he can apply for parole.

Snape and his friends had been drinking all day on May 27 this year before heading to the club where he got into a row with a man called Aaron Baker.

Describing the ensuing violence, a police spokesman said: ‘Snape became involved in a heated confrontation with another man.

‘He punched him in the face, causing him to stumble back, before he knocked one of the man’s friends out with one punch when she tried to intervene.

‘No sooner had she hit the ground, Snape began repeatedly punching the man, who by this point was using furniture to try and protect himself.

‘CCTV footage then shows one of Snape’s friends and a group of customers – who hadn’t been involved – coming over and getting the offender to leave the building.’

Nathan Marshall became trapped under the moving car, causing fatal injuries, the court heard

Witnesses said he ‘looked like he wanted to fight everyone and anyone and wasn’t concerned about the consequences’.

The fighting then spilled outside, where Snape jumped behind the wheel of a black Audi A4, and drove at a woman, who had to jump out of the way and lock herself in the club.

Snape smashed the window of the club before fighting with others outside the club and then getting back in the car and again driving at a group of revellers.

Snape ‘wanted to fight everyone and anyone’, witnesses said

He was trying to hit Mr Baker, prosecutors said.

When the car hit the group, Mr Baker was thrown across the bonnet but survived, while Snape’s friend Mr Marshall was ‘dragged’ under the vehicle and fatally injured.

Prosecutor Alistair Webster QC said: ‘Nathan Marshall was very close to the group the defendant was aiming for, and ended up on the ground and underneath the vehicle.

‘It was driven forwards, collided with another vehicle, and then reversed by the defendant, with Mr Marshall trapped underneath.

‘He was dragged along for some considerable distance and suffered multiple injuries.’

Paramedics tried to save his life, but he later died. Mr Baker was also injured but survived.

The Audi was later found abandoned on the M60 motorway after he crashed into the central reservation. Snape handed himself in the following day.

Flowers were placed at the scene after the incident outside the The Salisbury Club in Brinnington, Greater Manchester

Speaking after today’s convictions, Detective Inspector Andy Butterworth, said: ‘Blinded by unexplainable rage, Jonathan Snape tried to cause as much damage as he possibly could, starting inside the club.

‘Once outside he used a car to drive at a crowd of people causing serious injuries to one man and catastrophic injuries to Nathan, which sadly resulted in his death.

‘Although he may not have intentionally targeted Nathan, he clearly didn’t give a second thought about the potential consequences of his actions. I don’t know what he expected would happen when he decided to use a car as a weapon and drive at speed towards another person.

‘He will now spend at least the next 24 years at least in prison and have to live with the death of Nathan on his conscience, which is nothing more than he deserves.’