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Teenager guilty of man's murder | Teenager guilty of man's murder |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a man on his doorstep in front of his young family. | A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a man on his doorstep in front of his young family. |
Bradley Tucker, 18, shot Peter Woodhams in Canning Town, east London, last year in the "final chapter" of a bullying campaign, the Old Bailey heard. | Bradley Tucker, 18, shot Peter Woodhams in Canning Town, east London, last year in the "final chapter" of a bullying campaign, the Old Bailey heard. |
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was cleared of murdering 22-year-old Mr Woodhams. | A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was cleared of murdering 22-year-old Mr Woodhams. |
Tucker, of Canning Town, had denied murder in the Old Bailey trial and said he only meant to scare his victim. | Tucker, of Canning Town, had denied murder in the Old Bailey trial and said he only meant to scare his victim. |
Mr Woodhams' fiancee Jane Bowden burst into tears as the verdict was read out in court. | Mr Woodhams' fiancee Jane Bowden burst into tears as the verdict was read out in court. |
The shooting, in August 2006, came seven months after another incident when Mr Woodhams was stabbed in the neck and slashed across the face. | The shooting, in August 2006, came seven months after another incident when Mr Woodhams was stabbed in the neck and slashed across the face. |
Mr Woodham's son Sam "still believes his father is coming back"A group of youths had tormented Mr Woodhams since the stabbing and he had told police: "This has had a dramatic effect on my life. I can't go out anymore because I am scared." | |
Nine police officers are now facing a misconduct inquiry after claims they did not carry out a detailed enough investigation into the incident. | |
Ms Bowden had said she had phoned the police every day for five weeks following the first attack, but police had never taken a statement. | |
Tucker told the Old Bailey jury he believed the gun he fired would only "go bang". | Tucker told the Old Bailey jury he believed the gun he fired would only "go bang". |
He said he was on his mobile phone when he saw an angry Mr Woodhams coming towards him swearing. | He said he was on his mobile phone when he saw an angry Mr Woodhams coming towards him swearing. |
"I put my phone in my pocket and pulled out the gun and started shooting," he told the court. | "I put my phone in my pocket and pulled out the gun and started shooting," he told the court. |
He said he fired the weapon "to scare him, make him go in the other direction", but then noticed the blood on his chest. | He said he fired the weapon "to scare him, make him go in the other direction", but then noticed the blood on his chest. |
Peter had no opportunity to defend himself in the face of a man who had complete disregard for his life Det Ch Insp Ian Stevenson | |
Ms Bowden said the couple's son Sam had become convinced his father was a star in heaven and thought his father was looking down on him. | |
"He still believes his father is coming back," she said. | "He still believes his father is coming back," she said. |
Det Ch Insp Ian Stevenson, who led the murder investigation, said: "Peter had no opportunity to defend himself in the face of a man who had complete disregard for his life as he was prepared to use a gun. | |
"My thoughts and those of my team remain with Peter's family and many friends at this very difficult time, who regardless of this result, have lost a loved-one and will have to live with this devastating consequence of gun crime." | |
Prosecutor Brian Altman had said during the trial the victim had been "subject to bullying by a group of local youths who had made Mr Woodhams' life and those of his family a complete misery". | Prosecutor Brian Altman had said during the trial the victim had been "subject to bullying by a group of local youths who had made Mr Woodhams' life and those of his family a complete misery". |
Tucker will be sentenced later. | Tucker will be sentenced later. |