Drunken mistake leaves man dead on Byron Street

A tragic local has been jailed for accidentally killing his friend while drunk.

Stephen Frewer has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his close friend Lee Marston. Frewer was sentenced to seven years in prison. 

Marston was tragically killed when the drunken pair began to play with Frewer’s loaded shotgun. Marston was shot in the head at his home on Byron Street in October.

Detective Inspector Alex Hathaway said: “This was a tragic incident which could so easily have been avoided.

“Lee’s family will spend the rest of their lives living with the consequences of this preventable incident.

“Frewer held a shotgun licence and kept his shotgun in accordance with the terms of his licence. However, while influenced by alcohol he made an irresponsible decision to go and get his firearm and behave in a criminally reckless way.

“While Frewer had no intention of killing his friend, this case is a valuable lesson about the devastating consequences of mixing alcohol and firearms. As I have already mentioned, Lee’s family have lost a loving son, while Frewer himself, along with his family, have got to come to terms with the consequences of his actions during the early hours of Sunday, October 26.

“I am pleased that Frewer did the right thing and pleaded guilty to the offence, sparing Lee’s family the ordeal of a trial.”