A thug who murdered a disabled man in a brutal gang attack died in a car crash on New Year's Eve.
Stephen Bonallie was just 17 when he battered Brent Martin to death along with two others, before being jailed.
The now-32-year-old's minimum prison term of 18 years was reportedly eventually cut to 14 years and he was released last year.
Police have confirmed Bonallie died in a collision on the A167 near Durham.
The force said he was travelling in a silver Audi A6 estate car when it crashed into a tree at just before 2am on Saturday.
Bonallie was pronounced dead in hospital while another man, in his 30s, remains critical.
23-year-old Brent had begged for his life when he was set upon by Bonaillie and pals William Hughes and Marcus Miller.
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The murder - on Sunderland's Town End Farm estate - sent shockwaves across Britain, reports ChronicleLive.
The vulnerable young man pleaded with his attackers to be his friend and even told them he loved them as he was beaten to death.
He was kicked and stamped on before dying in a pool of his own blood with his pants around his ankles.
Hughes, then 21, and Miller, then 16, admitted murder but Bonallie was found guilty after a trial.
All three were jailed for life in 2008 but Bonallie had his term cut twice following reviews by the High Court.
He expressed his remorse in a letter read to the court.
He said: “The night of the attack was knowones (sic) fault but my own. I was a young, angry, immature teenager that thought it was clever to drink and take drugs with peers, but now I know it was stupid.
"Not that I didn’t know then because I did, I just never thought it would lead to a man’s death. I do have genuine remorse and will never truly understand what my victim’s family and loved ones are still going through.”
But at the time Brent's family told how they could never forgive Bonallie.
Brent's twin sister, Danielle Flynn said: "If he has changed, good luck to him, but our family will never be able to forgive him. How can you forgive the humiliation and degradation of what they did?"
And after hearing of Bonallie's death Danielle expressed her mixed emotions in a public post on Durham Constabulary's Facebook page and sent condolences to his family.
She wrote yesterday: "This is Stephen Bonallie one of the three who murdered my twin brother. This year when he was released I spent it upset, angry he was getting to start his life again when he was a big part in my brother loosing (sic) his.
"However I found out yesterday morning in disbelief that he died in a car accident. I spent the day with mixed emotions; happy, sad, gutted etc. God works in mysterious ways and I think it comes to us all. I guess it's because I'm human I know what it feels like to lose a brother and my mother knows what it feels like to lose a son so condolences to his family."
Bonallie’s family have released a statement via police.
They said: “It is with deepest regret that we announce the death of our Stephen James Bonallie, 32 years, who was involved in a tragic road traffic collision on the A167, Durham, on the morning of Saturday, December 31, 2022.
“He was a much-loved son, brother, boyfriend, nephew, uncle, brother-in-law and cousin and will be sadly missed. We wish to thank everyone for their support and ask to be left so that we can grieve in peace.”
The collision is being investigated by Durham Constabulary’s Collision Investigation Unit and officers have appealed for witnesses.
Anyone with information should call 101 quoting incident reference number 26 of December 31.
