LIVE UPDATES: 13-year-old boy to be sentenced for killing Sheffield grandmother Marcia Grant

Marcia Grant was a foster carer for the boy who went on to kill her with her own car, Sheffield Crown Court heard earlier today.

More details here.

South Yorkshire Police will give a statement outside Sheffield Crown Court at 1.45pm.

In addition, the force has issued this new photo of Marcia shared by her family.

A 13-year-old boy who killed a Sheffield grandmother when he ran her down with her own car has been sentenced.

60-year-old Marcia Grant was hit by a car on Hemper Lane, Greenhill, on the evening of Wednesday, April 5, 2023, with emergency services being called to the scene at around 7.10pm.

https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/crime/greenhill-killer-driver-13-locked-up-over-death-of-marcia-grant-after-fatal-incident-in-sheffield-suburb-4426889

BREAKING: The boy has been sentenced to two years’ custody.

She said that while custody is a ‘last resort’ for children of the defendant’s age, ‘taking the car, driving the car and causing’ Marcia Grant’s death’ is so serious that only custody can be justified.

The boy was told the time spent in detention will count towards his sentence.

Sentencing should begin shortly.

Going back to the moving statements read to the court from Marcia’s loved ones now.

Her daughter, Gemma said: “Marcia had a fierce ambition to love, comfort and bring joy to anyone, and everyone, she met. She wanted to pull the world into a hug, lend a hand & raise the spirits of anyone facing adversity and she did this tirelessly.”

She said the defendant’s actions have resulted in the ‘loss of our rock, the deep and never-ending source of much of our humour, warmth, and love’. Gemma continued: “The one person who could have guided us through this isn't here. Between us we have lost a wife, mother, carer, grandparent, best friend, life coach and guiding light. This loss is felt over and over again, when we encounter feelings of anger or depression, we turn to her for someone to talk to, but she isn't here.”

Sarah Marshall writes: "The court heard how [the teenager] told the police officer: “I’m going to f***ing kill your family, you b***h’ and ‘I don’t give a f***’. He then asked ‘is she dead’.

"Around five minutes later, he said: “It was an accident, I swear.” Later on at the police station, the defendant said: “I feel bad.”

Previously, The Star reported how when the teenager first appeared before court in April, prosecutor Gary Crothers told Sheffield Youth Court that police at the scene noted that the boy said "Is she dead?", "Looks like I got my first kill?", and "It was an accident, I swear."

The court has heard the cases by Prosecutor Mark McKone KC and defence barrister Richard Wright KC.

Sentencing is now slated to take place at 12.30pm.

Report for The Star Sarah Marshall writes:

"Defence barrister, Richard Wright KC is on his feet now. Referring to a pre-sentence report prepared on the defendant’s behalf, Mrs Justice May said ‘there is a great deal of mitigation and a guilty plea’.

"The court has been told that the defendant provided police with a prepared statement during the course of one of four interviews, in which he said he had ‘never driven a car before’ and ‘so struggled’ with operating it. He said he ‘didn’t know’ Marcia was behind the car & never intended to hit her’ or cause any harm. He also said he hoped it would be accepted this was a ‘tragic accident’.

"Mrs Justice May has now said she intends to sentence at 12.30, so I’ll try to catch up on some of the other parts I haven’t used yet."

Accounts by Marcia's family of how the grandmother's death has affected them have been read to the court.

Gemma Grant read her victim impact statement to the court and described the impact of Marcia’s death on Mr Grant.

She said he suffers from flashbacks, and feels ‘angry and guilty he couldn’t save his wife’. The stress & grief leaves him feeling exhausted and is constantly shaking.

Gemma Grant said she too continues to be psychologically affected by Marcia’s death, and regularly suffers from panic attacks in the night.

She told the court she will ‘never forgive’ the defendant.

Another family member, Shaun Grant, also read his statement in court, and said there are a number of questions that will never be answered, including ‘how could someone have such a disregard for human life’. He said he had ‘lost his best friend’.