Driver who killed man in grass cutting row jailed
Mark Wigley has been jailed for nine years for the manslaughter of Liam Green, whom he hit with his car during a dispute over grass cutting in Cudworth, near Barnsley. The case matters because the court found Wigley intended to strike Green and cause injury, while rejecting the murder charge.
The incident followed Green offering to cut grass for £7.50 at Wigley’s mother’s home; she felt upset and shared doorbell images with relatives who believed she was being harassed. Wigley’s daughter Sarah and brother-in-law Neil Shaw were cleared of all charges, and he will be banned from driving for five years after release. Green’s family described the lasting grief caused by his death.
In short
- Mark Wigley received nine years for manslaughter.
- Liam Green was struck during a grass cutting dispute.
- Wigley will be barred from driving for five years after release.
Explained simply
Manslaughter is a crime in which someone unlawfully causes another person’s death, but the prosecution has not proved murder. In this case, the court found that Mark Wigley meant to hit Liam Green and injure him, but did not find him guilty of murder.
The dispute began after Green offered to cut the grass at Wigley’s mother’s home for £7.50. She was upset by the offer and shared doorbell images with relatives, who thought she was being harassed; Wigley’s daughter and brother-in-law were later cleared of charges.
The case shows how a dispute between neighbours and relatives led to a fatal confrontation. Green’s death has left his family grieving, while the court’s verdict distinguished between intending to cause injury and intending to kill.