Man fleeing Dudley hammer attack killed by lorry
A father was killed when he ran into the path of a lorry while trying to escape a man armed with a hammer, a court heard.
Garret Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Sartaj Aziz, a 26-year-old father of two.
Wolverhampton Crown Court was told the incident was not a racist attack.
The victim, who lived in Prescot Road in Stourbridge, died when he was hit by the lorry outside the Formula 1 Hand Car Wash in Thorns Road, Quarry Bank, on August 20.
Fitzpatrick, 27, from Bank Street, Brierley Hill, admitted the unlawful killing on a basis that was not read out in full to the court but Mr Hugh O'Brien Quinn, prosecuting said: "It is accepted that the defendant had known Mr Aziz for over 12 months and that they were neither friends nor enemies.
"The defendant had attended the car wash intending to have a fist fight.
"He had a hammer when he ran from his vehicle to the vehicle in which Mr Aziz was seated.
"He was reportedly ranting and raving 'get out of the car or I will kill you.'"
The prosecutor continued: "This was an attack borne out of something that had happened earlier although there had not been a feud between them.
"The defendant turned up intent upon violence. Mr Aziz saw the hammer, believed he was about to be assaulted with the hammer, and ran in to the road."
Fitzpatrick was remanded in custody for reports until December 18 when he is due to be sentenced after the case has been outlined in full to the court.
