Fatal hit-and-run car found

Fatal hit-and-run car found

Jonathan was "all you could wish for in a son"

Police investigating a fatal hit-and-run accident have found the car that was involved in the incident.

Greater Manchester Police said youths were seen trying to torch the black Honda Prelude, which hit Jonathan Roberts in Manchester city centre.

On Thursday the force confirmed officers discovered the car in the Rusholme area of the city on Wednesday night.

Mr Roberts, a second-year IT student at Umist and originally from Shropshire, died after he was hit by the car as he crossed Oxford Road on Monday.

The 19-year-old suffered serious head injuries in the accident, at 1625 GMT at the junction with Hathersage Road, and later died in hospital.

On Wednesday Mr Roberts' parents, John and Julie, said he was "all you could ever wish for in a son".

On Thursday police said the car that hit him was found abandoned at 2340 GMT on Wednesday, at the rear of St Chrysostom Church on Conyngham Road.

Someone within the area must know who this car belongs to

Inspector Ian Hales

Inspector Ian Hales at the south Manchester Traffic Unit said: "I believe that this car was taken to Conyngham Road with the specific intention to get rid of any evidence that it may hold.

"However, we are now working on the car and any shred of evidence we get will help us to track down the driver.

"Someone within the area must know who this car belongs to."

He said officers will be visiting garages and showrooms to check whether anyone has tried to sell the car, or get it repaired, since the accident.

Badly burnt

Mr Roberts, who had a 17-year-old brother, Edward, and was from Nescliffe, Shrewsbury, died at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

"Now that we have got the car it is now only a matter of time before we find the driver," said Mr Hales.

Witnesses said the car was driven by a young Asian man.

The car, which had been badly burnt in places, has been removed and forensics officers were examining it on Thursday.