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| Four jailed for gang war killing | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Four people have been jailed for their role in killing 19-year-old gang leader Liam Smith, who was shot in the head in a revenge attack outside a prison. | Four people have been jailed for their role in killing 19-year-old gang leader Liam Smith, who was shot in the head in a revenge attack outside a prison. |
| Ryan Lloyd, 20, Thomas Forshaw, 18, and a 16-year-old youth, all from Croxteth, Liverpool, were convicted of his murder last month. | |
| Liam Duffy, 26, also of Croxteth, was convicted of manslaughter. | Liam Duffy, 26, also of Croxteth, was convicted of manslaughter. |
| Mr Smith was shot dead after visiting a friend at HMP Altcourse in Fazakerley, Liverpool, on 23 August 2006. | Mr Smith was shot dead after visiting a friend at HMP Altcourse in Fazakerley, Liverpool, on 23 August 2006. |
| Lloyd was sentenced to a minimum of 28 years, Forshaw a minimum of 20 years and a 16-year-old with an IQ of 71 who cannot be named, to 18 years. | |
| Duffy was sentenced to 20 years for manslaughter of which he will serve 10 years. | Duffy was sentenced to 20 years for manslaughter of which he will serve 10 years. |
| The sort of funeral he had glamorised gang behaviour Mr Justice Saunders Murder plotted behind bars | |
| The judge, Mr Justice Saunders, said: "Liam Smith was killed because he was a member of the Strand gang and was hated by members of the Croxteth Crew. | |
| "A previous attempt on his life, by shooting, had been foiled but police had no chance of arresting the perpetrators of that offence because Liam Smith did not report it, preferring to sort it out his own way. | |
| "A similar attitude was demonstrated by members of the Strand gang who gave evidence in this case. | |
| "They showed complete contempt for the legal process and their friend." | |
| Dead or in jail | |
| Smith, who was ambushed by as many as 20 people as he left Altcourse Prison, did not deserve to die, said the judge. | |
| But his death did not act as a warning against gang warfare. | |
| "A senior police officer in this case suggested the sort of funeral he had glamorised gang behaviour he was involved in and attracted more young people to join," Mr Justice Saunders said. | |
| "But there is nothing glamorous in this sort of gang - you are more likely to end up dead or serving a long prison sentence." |