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Gangster jailed for wake murder Gangsters jailed for wake murder
(about 5 hours later)
A Manchester gangster who murdered a mourner at the funeral of his previous shooting victim has been jailed for a minimum of 39 years. Five Manchester gangsters who murdered a mourner at the funeral of a previous victim of the gang's violence have all been jailed for life.
Colin Joyce, 29, was convicted of shooting Tyrone Gilbert, 23, at the wake for Ucal Chin, 24, whom Joyce "executed" six weeks earlier. The gang were convicted of shooting Tyrone Gilbert, 23, at the wake for Ucal Chin, 24, whom leader Colin Joyce had "executed" six weeks earlier.
Mr Justice Brian Langstaff gave Joyce two life sentences. Joyce and fellow leader Lee Amos were jailed for a minimum of 39 and 35 years respectively at Liverpool Crown Court.
He said Joyce and his Gooch Gang treated Manchester's streets "like the Wild West". The judge said Joyce and his Gooch Gang treated the city "like the Wild West".
Joyce was convicted of the murder at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday with fellow gang member Lee Amos, 33, who is due to be sentenced later. Three other senior members of the gang, who were convicted of the murder of Mr Gilbert, were also sentenced on Tuesday.
Shootings reduced Aeeron Campbell, 25, was told he must serve a minimum of 32 years.
As he sentenced Joyce, Mr Justice Brian Langstaff told him: "You were all involved in gang related activity which is all too reminiscent of Al Capone and Chicago in the era of prohibition. Narada Williams, 27, and his brother Ricardo, 26, were given 35 years and 34 years respectively.
"Manchester is not the Wild West, but many of you treated its streets as if it were." It was almost as if you regarded the badge of a guilty verdict as being a mark of honour Judge Justice Brian Langstaff
Eleven men were on trial for a catalogue of gang-related crimes, including murder. Six other men, described as foot soldiers in the organisation, were given sentences of between five-and-a-half and 13 years.
Police described Joyce and Amos as "among the most dangerous men in Manchester". Judge Justice Brian Langstaff told the defendants: "You were all involved in gang-related activity which is all too reminiscent of Al Capone and Chicago in the era of prohibition.
Jurors were told Joyce led the Gooch Gang in dealing drugs, torturing street dealers who crossed them and targeting rivals, culminating in the murders of Mr Chin, 24, and Mr Gilbert, 23. "Your reactions to the verdicts... suggest to me you could not care less.
"It was almost as if you regarded the badge of a guilty verdict as being a mark of honour in the cause for which you had shot."
Aeeron Campbell, Narada Williams and Ricardo Williams were also convicted
All 11 gang members were convicted of 27 of 28 charges relating to gangland drug dealing and shootings.
Police described Joyce, 29, and Amos, 33, as "among the most dangerous men in Manchester".
The court heard gang warfare erupted in the city in 2007 after Joyce and Amos were released on licence for firearms offences.
Their recall to prison later that year coincided with a dramatic reduction in violent crime in the city.
Since 2007 there has been a 92% reduction in gang-related shootings in the city and no gang-related murder for 12 months.
But Greater Manchester Police have also attributed the drop in gang crime to the force's operation Cougar - an initiative to crack down on gang activity.
Speaking after the hearing Chf Con Peter Fahy said: "Our next step is to identify the next generation of gang members and stop them from falling into this sort of lifestyle.
"The police cannot do this alone. Now is the time to step up and take responsibility and stop the sort of tragedies that resulted in the deaths of young men like Ucal Chin and Tyrone Gilbert from happening."
Tyrone Gilbert (right) was shot at the wake of his friend, Ucal ChinTyrone Gilbert (right) was shot at the wake of his friend, Ucal Chin
Jurors were told Joyce led the Gooch Gang in dealing drugs, torturing street dealers who crossed them and targeting rivals, culminating in the murders of Mr Chin and Mr Gilbert.
Police said Mr Chin and Mr Gilbert were killed in "military style" operations that were "executed with precision".Police said Mr Chin and Mr Gilbert were killed in "military style" operations that were "executed with precision".
Mr Chin was driving along Anson Road in Longsight on 15 June 2007 when a silver Audi pulled up alongside and seven shots were fired.Mr Chin was driving along Anson Road in Longsight on 15 June 2007 when a silver Audi pulled up alongside and seven shots were fired.
A few weeks later on 27 July, his friends and family, including Tyrone Gilbert, were attending an impromptu wake on Frobisher Close when a number of shots were fired into the crowd from a car.A few weeks later on 27 July, his friends and family, including Tyrone Gilbert, were attending an impromptu wake on Frobisher Close when a number of shots were fired into the crowd from a car.
Mr Gilbert was hit by a single bullet to the chest and he died in hospital.Mr Gilbert was hit by a single bullet to the chest and he died in hospital.
The court heard gang warfare erupted in the city in 2007 after Joyce and Amos were released on licence for firearms offences.
Their recall to prison later that year coincided with a dramatic reduction in violent crime in the city.
Since 2007 there has been a 92% reduction in gang-related shootings in the city and no gang-related murder for 12 months, according to Greater Manchester Police.