Melissa Tate death: Girlfriend and sister of dangerous driver who killed schoolgirl lied to police THE girlfriend and sister of a dangerous driver who mowed down and killed a 10-year-old school girl have been convicted of lying to police as he attempted to evade arrest. Connor Marsden was jailed for seven years and four months in December 2019 after pleading guilty to causing the death by dangerous driving of Melissa Tate outside the child’s home in Kenton. Newcastle Crown Court was told how Marsden, then 24, had downed two pints of beer before getting into his vehicle in September 2019. He was caught on CCTV driving at high speeds through residential streets in the middle of the afternoon before he struck 10-year-old Melissa and fled the area on foot.