Father and sons jailed for killing man in Birmingham
51-year-old Darren Smith was attacked in Shard End last March
Last updated 8th Apr 2024
Three men have been jailed after pleading guilty to killing a man in broad daylight in Birmingham
On 15 March 2023, Darren Smith had visited a phone shop on Heath Way to buy a phone case, when he was ambushed by the men who repeatedly kicked and punched him. The 51-year-old, was also hit multiple times with a wrench.
Two Rolex watches were also stolen from Darren’s wrist and staff at the shop were threatened before the three men fled in their cars.
Darren walked unsteadily out of the shop, before collapsing nearby.
Several members of the public gave Darren first aid until emergency services arrived, but he sadly died at the scene
Lee O’Brien and his two sons Luke and Lewis were arrested the following day (16 March) having fled to Torquay.
They had borrowed a car from a friend to travel down in so that they could evade police, but they were arrested after we traced the car they were travelling in.
At Birmingham Crown Court last September Lee O’Brien, 51, Luke O’Brien, 36 and Lewis O’Brien 31, all pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Today Lewis O'Brien and Luke O'Brien were both jailed for 12-and-a-half-years and Lee O'Brien was jailed for 11 years and eight months.
Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood from our Homicide Team, said: “We know that Lee, Luke and Lewis all knew Darren. They robbed him but claimed that they did not intend to kill him.
“My thought’s remain with Mr Smith’s family at this distressing time, I hope that these sentences bring them some sense of justice being done.”
Darren’s family previously released this tribute: "We as a family are devastated at the loss of our son Darren.
"He was a caring man and was loved by all who knew him. He was tragically taken from us and this has left a huge void in our lives.”