Fatal mistake: man met his biological father and killed him

Martin Greensmith, 37, met his biological father, 61-year-old Stephen Shevels, in a pub and pushed him during a sudden conflict. The father fell, hit his head on concrete, and died. The court found Greensmith guilty of manslaughter.

In County Durham, England, 37-year-old Martin Greensmith met his biological father, 61-year-old Stephen Shevels, whom he had never known, at the 'Queen's Chairman' pub. His mother pointed out the father during a Christmas evening. The sudden encounter caused Greensmith psychological discomfort, and the family moved to the beer garden. Later, staff asked Shevels to leave the pub for inappropriate behavior, and he ended up in his son's path. Greensmith pushed his father, who fell and hit his head on concrete, sustaining a fatal injury. The defendant claimed he acted without malice and was shocked by the incident. Teesside Crown Court found him guilty of manslaughter on September 2. Sentencing is scheduled for October 21. The victim's sister called the incident an unprovoked act of violence. Police noted that a split-second decision destroyed several lives.

Fatal mistake: man met his biological father and killed him