Richard Radbourne, aged 47, tragically passed away from multiple traumatic injuries, including a severed spinal cord and brain damage, after being struck by Murat Karakas, who drove his Audi Q3 into him while Mr. Radbourne was riding his Harley Davidson on Comberford Road in Tamworth, Staffordshire, on March 3.
Upon learning of a disagreement between his son, Max Karakas, and Mr. Radbourne, 51-year-old Karakas armed himself with a small rounders bat. He then got into his car to confront them while the motorcyclist followed his son.
During the trial at Stafford Crown Court, it was revealed that Max Karakas and Mr. Radbourne were traveling over 70mph in a 30mph zone when Murat Karakas approached them head-on. He allowed his son’s vehicle to pass before veering over the center line and colliding with the motorcyclist.
Prosecuting barrister Michael Burrows KC explained that Karakas, from Gillway Lane in Tamworth, drove his “large vehicle towards a motorcycle with the intent to cause at least serious harm” to Mr. Radbourne, who was thrown from his bike as a result.
A post-mortem examination indicated that Mr. Radbourne sustained multiple severe injuries, including a brain hemorrhage, brain stem damage, a severed spinal cord, a torn aorta, and fractures to his spine and thigh. He tragically died at the scene despite the attempts of passers-by and paramedics.
Judge Kristina Montgomery KC noted that Karakas, who had trained as a teacher in Turkey before moving to the UK to become a boiler and gas engineer, had effectively created a blockade with his vehicle to prevent Mr. Radbourne, who had been drinking on the night of the incident, from following his son.
She stated: “When you saw your son’s car coming with the motorcycle behind, you slowed down and moved into Mr. Radbourne’s path after allowing your son to pass. The collision between your vehicle and Mr. Radbourne was inevitable, and the consequences should have been clear to anyone.”
“Mr. Radbourne was thrown a significant distance from his motorcycle. Your vehicle collided with his bike with such force that it was unrecognizable as a Harley Davidson to a trained police officer.”
Although Karakas expressed remorse after the incident, calling for an ambulance and writing a letter to the court conveying his devastation, Judge Montgomery asserted that he did not accept full accountability for his actions.
She remarked: “While I acknowledge your sorrow for an outcome you didn’t intend, it’s hard to reconcile your remorse with the evidence presented during the trial. Genuine remorse encompasses acceptance of responsibility, and I find that you did not hold yourself accountable for your actions.”
“Utilizing your large vehicle to stop an oncoming motorcyclist by initiating a collision was an incredibly dangerous act, presenting a clear and present danger to the rider.”
Additionally, she pointed out that Karakas appeared more focused on self-preservation post-crash, transferring the bat to a family member to dispose of it before police discovered it.
The judge mandated that Karakas serve two-thirds of his 11-year prison sentence before being eligible for release on license. Furthermore, he faces a five-year driving ban upon release and must pass an extensive retest before being allowed to drive again.
In a statement delivered in court on Friday, Mr. Radbourne’s father, Kevin, remembered his son fondly as possessing a “wicked sense of humor and a cheeky smile,” noting that his motorcycle was his “pride and joy.”
He expressed heartache, saying: “Losing my son in such a senseless and tragic manner is incredibly difficult to bear. He was my youngest son, my baby. Though he was 47, he remained very precious to me. We are left with an irreplaceable void.”
