Halifax mum died after phone ‘thrown at her’ in row

A Halifax mum collapsed and died from catastrophic injuries after being struck in the neck.
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Lloyd Birkby was jailed for five years for manslaughter yesterday over the death of Levi Ogden, 26, near Silver Street in Halifax town centre on November 3 2019.

Leeds Crown Court heard Birkby, 27, picked up a phone in a drunken rage and threw it at Ms Ogden’s neck as they argued during a night out.

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Dafydd Enoch QC, prosecuting, said the incident was captured on CCTV.

Mum-of-two Levi Ogden, 26Mum-of-two Levi Ogden, 26
Mum-of-two Levi Ogden, 26

Mr Enoch said: “The deceased staggered for a few seconds and then collapsed in a heap on the floor.

“It was an argument over nothing much.

“This was symptomatic of a history of mistrust.”

The court heard the phone struck Ms Odgen, 26, in the neck, causing blood vessels to tear.

Halifax town centre during November 3Halifax town centre during November 3
Halifax town centre during November 3

The injury led to bleeding to her brain and she suffered a cardiac arrest.

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Birkby then assaulted Ms Odgen’s friend as his partner Ms Ogden collapsed near to Silver Street.

Birkby continued to be aggressive as street angels and paramedics tried to help her as she lay dying.

The incident happened in the early hours of the morning as Birkby, Ms Ogden and her friend were returning home after a night out together.

Halifax town centreHalifax town centre
Halifax town centre

Mr Enoch told the court there had been an argument between Birkby and the two women.

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Birkby kicked a passing taxi, shrugged off Ms Ogden’s friend and picked up a mobile phone which had been dropped on the ground.

“Having picked up the phone he threw it very hard and struck her in the region of the neck,” said Mr Enoch.

“He must have known, or ought to have known, that his actions were likely to cause really serious harm.”

Lloyd BirkbyLloyd Birkby
Lloyd Birkby

“The tragic death of Levi Ogden was caused in a highly unusual way and in a way that could not be reasonably foreseen.”

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Sentencing Birkby, Judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, said: “You will have to carry with you the knowledge that you have deprived your children of their mother.

“No doubt it will affect them throughout all of their lives.”