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Dave Courtney stepson murder: Two men jailed for killing | Dave Courtney stepson murder: Two men jailed for killing |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two men have been jailed for life for the murder of the stepson of gangland celebrity and author Dave Courtney. | Two men have been jailed for life for the murder of the stepson of gangland celebrity and author Dave Courtney. |
Drug dealer Genson Courtney, 23, was shot through the left eye in Greenwich, south-east London, in July 2011. | Drug dealer Genson Courtney, 23, was shot through the left eye in Greenwich, south-east London, in July 2011. |
His uncle David Pinto, 33, and Robert Bleach, 46, both of Greenwich, south-east London, were convicted of murder at the Old Bailey last week. | His uncle David Pinto, 33, and Robert Bleach, 46, both of Greenwich, south-east London, were convicted of murder at the Old Bailey last week. |
They were both jailed for minimum terms of 31 years. The judge said the victim was "effectively executed". | They were both jailed for minimum terms of 31 years. The judge said the victim was "effectively executed". |
The killers appeared via video link for the sentencing, because of fears of disturbances. | |
'Eliminate the threat' | 'Eliminate the threat' |
Sentencing the pair Judge Wendy Joseph said: "The gun was put to his head and he was effectively executed." | Sentencing the pair Judge Wendy Joseph said: "The gun was put to his head and he was effectively executed." |
The victim had made threats to Pinto and demanded £1,100 he claimed to be owed. | The victim had made threats to Pinto and demanded £1,100 he claimed to be owed. |
Days after the incident he was shot as he was getting into his car outside his girlfriend's flat, the trial heard. | Days after the incident he was shot as he was getting into his car outside his girlfriend's flat, the trial heard. |
Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuting, said: "The bullet travelled through the eye socket into the brain, lodging at the rear of the skull. | Jonathan Rees QC, prosecuting, said: "The bullet travelled through the eye socket into the brain, lodging at the rear of the skull. |
"The shooting had all the hallmarks of a cold-blooded execution. | "The shooting had all the hallmarks of a cold-blooded execution. |
"The motive behind the killing was that David Pinto was concerned that Genson Courtney was after him and sought to eliminate the threat that he posed," the barrister said. | "The motive behind the killing was that David Pinto was concerned that Genson Courtney was after him and sought to eliminate the threat that he posed," the barrister said. |
Days before his death the victim had got into an argument with his stepfather Dave Courtney about mortgage payments on the family home in Plumstead and had punched him. | Days before his death the victim had got into an argument with his stepfather Dave Courtney about mortgage payments on the family home in Plumstead and had punched him. |
But the dispute was resolved a couple of days later, the court heard. | But the dispute was resolved a couple of days later, the court heard. |
Dave Courtney has made a living out of making films and writing books about underworld connections, mainly in the 1960s and 1970s. | Dave Courtney has made a living out of making films and writing books about underworld connections, mainly in the 1960s and 1970s. |
He also produced and starred in his own film, which featured in the Cannes film festival in 2001. | He also produced and starred in his own film, which featured in the Cannes film festival in 2001. |
Following the sentencing, Det Ch Insp Kenny McDonald said: "David Pinto and Robert Bleach decided to end an ongoing feud with Genson Courtney by using calculated, deadly violence. | |
"They plotted the attack, surveying the address they knew Genson Courtney would be staying at, and shot their victim in cold blood as he approached his car in a residential street." |
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