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| Eyewitness killer jailed for life | Eyewitness killer jailed for life |
| (17 minutes later) | |
| A robber has been jailed for life for shooting dead a witness to an armed robbery at a building society. | A robber has been jailed for life for shooting dead a witness to an armed robbery at a building society. |
| Lynton Fletcher, 27, of Nechells, Birmingham, was convicted of murdering Joseph Nwabuko, despite denying any involvement in his death. | Lynton Fletcher, 27, of Nechells, Birmingham, was convicted of murdering Joseph Nwabuko, despite denying any involvement in his death. |
| Mr Nwabuko, 28, from Walsall, West Midlands, was shot after a raid on a Nationwide branch in central Birmingham in 2004, the city's crown court heard. | Mr Nwabuko, 28, from Walsall, West Midlands, was shot after a raid on a Nationwide branch in central Birmingham in 2004, the city's crown court heard. |
| Fletcher was convicted of conspiracy to rob at a previous hearing. | Fletcher was convicted of conspiracy to rob at a previous hearing. |
| Mr Nwabuko, a student, saw Fletcher, of Little Francis Grove, and his gang rob the branch and then followed them as they tried to escape. | |
| They made a conscious decision to shoot members of the public Det Supt Keith Wilson | They made a conscious decision to shoot members of the public Det Supt Keith Wilson |
| Fletcher pulled out a gun and shot him dead. | Fletcher pulled out a gun and shot him dead. |
| The gang had been responsible for a number of armed robberies across the Midlands over a period of two years during which seven other people were shot. | The gang had been responsible for a number of armed robberies across the Midlands over a period of two years during which seven other people were shot. |
| Only Lynton Fletcher stood trial for Mr Nwabuko's murder, although police said other gang members had been targeted and charged with various offences. | Only Lynton Fletcher stood trial for Mr Nwabuko's murder, although police said other gang members had been targeted and charged with various offences. |
| Joseph Nwabuko is thought to have used a cash machine nearbyDet Supt Keith Wilson of West Midlands Police said Mr Nwabuko's murder was "cold and callous". | Joseph Nwabuko is thought to have used a cash machine nearbyDet Supt Keith Wilson of West Midlands Police said Mr Nwabuko's murder was "cold and callous". |
| "They had secured what they came for, but they decided to turn on an innocent victim and shoot him dead. | "They had secured what they came for, but they decided to turn on an innocent victim and shoot him dead. |
| "I would describe them simply as evil. They made a conscious decision to shoot members of the public." | "I would describe them simply as evil. They made a conscious decision to shoot members of the public." |
| The jury, who convicted Fletcher of murder by a 10-2 majority verdict after a six-week trial, heard how Mr Nwabuko was shot in the lungs at close range outside the building society in High Street. | The jury, who convicted Fletcher of murder by a 10-2 majority verdict after a six-week trial, heard how Mr Nwabuko was shot in the lungs at close range outside the building society in High Street. |
| Timothy Spencer QC, prosecuting, said who the ruthless use of firearms, which were used even after money had been handed over, was part of the gangs hallmark. | |
| The gang escaped with £7,000 after the raidFletcher shot Mr Nwabuko, even though he had the chance to escape after taking £7,000 from the building society. | |
| Speaking after the sentencing Joseph's brother, Johnson Nwabuko, said it was an emotional time for the family. | |
| "The verdict is not going to bring Joseph back however he can rest in peace and I do believe justice has been done. | |
| "My family have gone through a lot of suffering in the last four years and to be honest I did not think we would come to this day." | |
| Sentencing Fletcher to life Mr Justice Ouseley called it a cold and brutal killing of a witness and also praised the bravery of two members of the public who attempted to tackle members of the gang during two other robberies. | Sentencing Fletcher to life Mr Justice Ouseley called it a cold and brutal killing of a witness and also praised the bravery of two members of the public who attempted to tackle members of the gang during two other robberies. |
| Fletcher will be sentenced to for the conspiracy charge at a hearing in December. | Fletcher will be sentenced to for the conspiracy charge at a hearing in December. |