Star footballer and car crash killer Courtney Meppen-Walter dies aged 32

Former Manchester City youth player Courtney Meppen-Walter has died at the age of 32. His death was announced by his old club, Bury, which wrote that is was “deeply saddened” to learn of the news. “The thoughts and condolences of everyone at Bury FC are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time,” the statement on social media said. The cause and circumstances of his death have not been released. Meppen-Walter was released by Bury last summer. He was also a former England under-18 captain and played for Carlisle, Chorley, Stockport, and Telford United. We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former player Courtney Meppen-Walter, at the age of 32. The thoughts and condolences of everyone at #buryfc are with his family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. pic.twitter.com/v4Qlu2Twhn — Bury Football Club (@buryfcofficial) September 29, 2026 Meppen-Walter was jailed in 2013 for causing the death of two people by dangerous driving. The footballer was at the wheel of his grandfather's "high-powered" Mercedes C220 saloon and doing nearly double the 30mph speed limit when he hit a Nissan Micra emerging from a side street in central Manchester . The court heard that Meppen-Walter had been “jockeying” and “playing games” with a friend in another vehicle before the crash. The Nissan driver, Kulwant Singh, 32, and his sister, front-seat passenger Ravel Kaur, 37, were both killed. Both victims had come to the UK in 2001 to start a new life after fleeing persecution by the Taliban. Courtney Meppen-Walter, pictured during sentencing at the Crown Court in Manchester (AFP/Getty) Ms Kaur's two sons, aged 16 and 17, both back-seat passengers, were injured in the crash. The crash left them orphans, as their father had been killed in Afghanistan. Meppen-Walter jumped out of his car and tried to help the injured after the crash, waving his arms and saying “what have I done?”, the court heard. He served half of his 16-month sentence and was handed a two-week trial by Carlisle United just days after he was released from prison. In 2019, he was given a 22-month driving ban after being caught drink-driving. He was twice over the legal limit after going drinking with friends at a Christmas market, and his car was later spotted on CCTV swerving in the road. At his sentencing, he told the judge: “I know what you are probably thinking and what everyone else is thinking. I will probably get called every named under the sun and I deserve it. I’m just embarrassed.”