The families of William Birchard and Darren George said no sentence can ever undo the devastation of losing their sons
Families of two young men who died in a hit-and-run have paid tribute to their ‘beloved sons’ after their killers were jailed for murder. William Birchard, 21, died at the scene while Darren George, 22, died later the same day in hospital when they were knocked off their e-bikes in Sunbury.
Police were called to a slip road near Sunbury Cross roundabout shortly before 1am on July 22, 2024 after members of the public found the pair in a critical condition. A black pickup truck was seen performing a U-turn and driving down the slip road towards Sunbury Cross roundabout shortly after the collision, and a black Ford Ranger Raptor registered to a local man was soon identified and found parked up close by.
Several hours later the owner, Alex Rose, contacted police to report his truck stolen. This was a false report, and Rose later pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice. Hours before Rose had seen people moving around the grounds of a college which backed onto his home and believed they were burglars.
Rose had previously been a victim of burglary, so he called Charles Pardoe to meet up and they drove around in his black Raptor for over an hour. During this time, Rose was in phone contact with his girlfriend, Tara Knaggs, who remained at home while he searched.
It was here, shortly before 12.50am, that William Birchard and Darren George’s paths crossed with Rose as they rode into Sunbury on a Talaria Sting e-bike. Police believe Rose mistook them for part of the group he had been searching for and pursued the e-bike along Green Street to the Sunbury Cross roundabout, exceeding speeds of 60mph in a 30mph zone.
In an attempt to get away William and Darren drove the wrong way around the Sunbury Cross roundabout and onto the slip road travelling the wrong way towards the A316/M3. Rose and Pardoe followed them in the Raptor, also travelling the wrong way, and crashed into the bike, before fleeing the scene.
Rose tried to escape the country on July 23, but was stopped by police in Birmingham Airport before he was about to board a one-way flight to Istanbul with his girlfriend, Tara Knaggs. The flight had been booked just hours before, they had a single carry-on bag between them containing a few items of clothing and more than £4000 in cash.
Rose was arrested on suspicion of murder and Knaggs was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Pardoe was arrested the following day on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, and later charged with murder.
Following a four-week trial at Guildford Crown Court, on Wednesday, September 10 Alex Rose, Sunbury, was found guilty of two counts of murder. Charles Pardoe, of Feltham, was also found guilty of two counts of murder.
Tara Knaggs, 25, of Great Ayton in Yorkshire, was found guilty of assisting an offender. The trio were sentenced at the same court on Monday, September 22.
Alex Rose was handed a life term, to serve a minimum of 34 years. He will also serve 21 months concurrently for perverting the course of justice. Charles Pardoe was sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of 29 years.
Tara Knaggs was sentenced to three years in prison, to serve a minimum of one year and two months prior to being considered for licence. Each of the defendants had their sentences marginally reduced to account for time already spent in custody prior to trial.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Inspector Debbie Birch, from the Surrey and Sussex Police Major Crime Team, said: “My thoughts and sympathies remain, as always, with the family and friends of William Birchard and Darren George. Today’s outcome will not change the fact that William and Darren’s lives were cut so unfairly short, but I hope that their loved ones will take some small comfort from seeing justice served.
“I am grateful to the hard work of our officers and staff who worked so hard to secure these convictions.”
‘No sentence can ever undo the devastation of losing him’
Paying tribute to William, his dad said: “Today’s court outcome brings a measure of justice for our son William and his friend Darren. While no sentence can ever undo the devastation of losing him, we take some comfort in knowing that those responsible have been held accountable.
“William was not just a victim of a senseless crime — he was our beloved son, a brother, and a friend to many. His life was filled with promise, and his loss has left a gap that will never be filled. William had a kind heart, a bright smile, and a love for life that touched everyone who knew him. We will remember him for his laughter, his loyalty, and the joy he brought into our lives.
“The past months have been an incredibly painful journey for our family. Sitting through the trial and hearing the details of how William’s life was taken has been almost unbearable. But throughout it all, we have held on to the hope that justice would prevail. Today’s verdict cannot bring William back, but it does bring us some peace in knowing that the truth has been heard.
“We want to express our deepest gratitude to Surrey Police. From the very first moment, their officers have shown extraordinary dedication, professionalism, and compassion. They have worked tirelessly to investigate William’s murder, to uncover the truth, and to support us as a family through the most difficult time of our lives. We will never forget their hard work and the humanity they showed us when we needed it most.
“We are also grateful to the prosecution team for presenting the case with such care, to the jury for their attention and courage, and to all those who have stood by us with love and support.
“As a family, our lives will never be the same. William’s absence is felt every single day, and we carry a grief that words cannot fully express. But we also carry his memory, and we will continue to honour him in the way we live our lives.”
‘I loved that boy’
Darren’s mum said, “Darren should still be with us – but he is not. A guilty verdict doesn’t change the past. Justice being served doesn’t heal the loss of our son.
“We have had so much support from friends and family which has been invaluable. But it is those who have shown kindness even though they do not know us who have helped support us from afar – the lorry driver that stopped, the paramedics, and the Air Ambulance crew.
“Our family have further been supported by the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and I have nothing but praise for our emergency services and encourage people, in turn, to support them. Darren was always coming and going – he couldn’t sit still. He would arrive at home with friends, repair cars with his dad, then he would then be off, and then he would be back again.
“The coming and goings have stopped. The repairs of the cars have stopped. The buzz of a busy home has stopped.
“Darren’s dad is a man of few words. When he read the statement I had written for court, my husband simply uttered quietly, ‘I loved that boy’.”
Sign up to our London Crimewatch WhatsApp community for the latest major court updates and breaking news delivered straight to your phone. Sign up HERE. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the MyLondon team. We also treat our subscribers to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. To unsubscribe, click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’. If you’re curious, you can read our privacy notice.
