Kerry Fair found guilty of killing Thomas Maguire in Birmingham in ‘revenge’ hit and run

​A mum of three has been found guilty of manslaughter after a man suffered fatal injuries when he was knocked off a motorbike in Kingstanding last May.

Thomas Maguire had been travelling along Kings Road on 18 May 2022 when the bike he was on was hit by a car being driven by Kerry Fair. Fair deliberately pursued the 30-year-old in “revenge” after being told that he had stolen the motorbike from her daughter’s boyfriend’s address hours earlier.

Moments before hitting the motorcycle, Fair was captured driving a Ford Focus speeds of between 76 and 86 mph in a 30mph speed zone as she pursued Thomas. Thomas was knocked off the motorcycle and Fair immediately fled the scene leaving Thomas seriously injured. She abandoned the Focus on the side of the road where police later discovered it with a steering lock on and the engine still running.

Thomas was taken to hospital by his friends where he remained in a critical condition for three weeks. He passed away on 9 June as a result of his injuries. Fair’s wallet was found in the front door pocket she was arrested shortly after the collision.

The 39-year-old of Parkeston Crescent, Kingstanding was found guilty at Birmingham Crown Court today (7 March) and is facing a jail sentence.

What happened in court?

Jurors heard that hours before the fatal crash, Mr Maguire and two others had pulled up outside her eldest daughter’s home in Hartley Road, Kingstanding, in a white Tiguan. Two men sneaked into the back garden and stole a Yamaha motorbike, which belonged to Fair’s daughter’s boyfriend, while the third man kept watch outside.

The court heard Fair drove up to the house as the thieves where fleeing and did a U-turn before pursuing the motorbike rider. Jurors heard she hit speeds of between 76mph and 86mph shortly before the crash. She claimed she had “accidentally” collided with Mr Maguire and had applied the brakes shortly before hitting him.

What has West Midlands Police said about the case?

Detective Inspector Michelle Thurgood, from Homicide Team, said: “At the speed she was travelling, at the very least she was reckless to the fact Thomas would be injured as a result of her actions that night.

“Had Fair applied emergency braking when she realised she was gaining rapidly on the motorbike, the collision could have been completely avoided, which inevitably could have prevented Thomas from being injured.

“Our thoughts remain with the family of Thomas and I hope today’s verdict can bring them some closure.”

Fair is due to be sentenced on Tuesday 14 March.