Exclusive:Driver pleads guilty to manslaughter over death of Mackenzie Ball, 20, in horror crash
Three other men are yet to enter pleas
A 19-year-old has pleaded guilty to manslaughter over a horror death crash.
Mackenzie Ball, 20, died following a two-vehicle collision on Morthen Road, at the junction of Moat Lane, Wickersley, on June 2, 2024.
The crash involved a silver Land Rover Discovery and a silver Subaru Forester and was the centre of a major police investigation.
Mackenzie, who was a passenger in the Land Rover, died at the scene.
Guilty plea
Today (April 27) at Sheffield Crown Court, the driver of the Subaru, Owen Cocksedge, 19, of HMP Doncaster, pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
He also pleaded guilty to two charges of GBH for injuries caused to two others in the Land Rover.
Three other young men from Sheffield - Kowen, 22, of Jaunty Avenue, Gleadless Townend; Adam Platts, 20, of Newbould Crescent, Beighton; and Deacon Blake, 18, of Jaunty Avenue, Gleadless Townend - are all charged with manslaughter and are yet to enter pleas.
They will appear at court on June 8.
The judge, His Honour The Recorder of Sheffield Jeremy Richardson, told Cocksedge: “You have now pleaded guilty to three serious matters.
“You will in due course be sentenced but it falls at this stage whether that should be in a relatively near future or whether it should have to await the outcome of the cases of the other defendants.
“That will have to be decided and you will have to wait.”
Cocksedge was remanded into custody, while Kowen, Platts and Blake were released on bail.
Tributes were paid to Mackenzie, known as Mac, following his death.
Tributes following fatal crash
His family said in a statement which was shared by South Yorkshire Police at the time: “Our family are absolutely devastated at the loss of our son Mac. He has been taken from us too soon.”
Flowers, balloons and tributes from his loved ones were keft at the crash scene afterwards.
“My beautiful baby boy - we will fight to the end to get you justice,” one said.
“You were such an amazing son. Love you always and forever, love, your heartbroken mum,” said another.
Another said: “Mac, u turned into a fantastic young man I’m so proud of you, things will never be the same, will miss u mate.”