Four killers who gunned down a man in the street in Birmingham have been handed life sentences today.
Anthony Sargeant, 33, had been talking to a friend in the street when a BMW and Mercedes pulled up and two shots were fired at around 9.40pm on 25 August, 2018.
Mr Sargeant was hit once in the back, and died in hospital from his injuries six days later.
The killers sped off in the stolen cars, and police launched a major investigation to identify and track down the gunmen.
Painstaking recovery of CCTV and mobile phone traffic linked the defendants to the cars in the build-up to and aftermath of the killing.
Brothers Michael and Connor Goodwin, aged 27 and 28 and both previously of Wallace Road, Oldbury, Keenan Anderson, 26, previously of Albert Road, Handsworth, and Leon Riley, 22, previously of Bridgelands Way, Perry Barr, were all found guilty of murder last summer.
Today (24 March) at Birmingham Crown Court, they were jailed for life with minimum terms as follows:
Michael Goodwin – 28 years
Connor Goodwin- 32 years
Keenan Anderson – 32 years
Leon Riley – 28 years
And as part of the investigation, detectives uncovered images showing the four celebrating Connor Goodwin’s birthday on the afternoon of 26 August at a pub in Hockley, less than 24 hours after the shooting and while Mr Sargeant lay dying in hospital.
The gun was recovered during a police raid in Derbyshire in November, 2019.
Experts from the National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS) were able to prove it was the same weapon used to kill Mr Sargeant using unique markings on the weapon.
Det Insp Hannah Whitehouse, senior investigating officer, said: “We may never know why Mr Sargeant was murdered, but police have been able to prove that these men acted together, travelling in a convoy of two stolen cars across Birmingham to go to Rickman Drive, where Anthony Sargeant was shot.
“They have shown no remorse, denying the offence throughout.
“This investigation has been highly complex and challenging and it shows that West Midlands Police will relentlessly pursue those responsible for using firearms on our streets.”
Speaking at the time of conviction, Mr Sargeant’s family said: “Almost four years ago, my son, our father, brother and uncle was murdered as he innocently walked down the road outside his mother’s home.
“Today after sitting through months of trial, we finally have justice for him although it will never be enough.
“However, we still have to live through a lifetime of pain and heartache of him being taken away from his family.
“Eight fatherless children now finding their way through life without their provider, teacher and superhero.
“Anthony was such a bubbly, energetic, witty soul and we will do everything to ensure he is not forgotten.
“Finally, we would like to thank West Midlands Police for bringing the case before Birmingham Crown Court and the Crown Prosecution service for their outstanding efforts within this case.”
Ian Head, NABIS Head of Intelligence, Governance and International Development, said: “Firearms very often move around the UK from place to place and from crime group to crime group and once recovered NABIS are able to ballistically link them to previous firearms discharges.
“Evidence recovered from scenes allows NABIS to forensically link firearms that have been used in previous shootings. Upon receiving the evidence into our facilities NABIS forensic experts are able to connect scenes using state of the art technology.
“Firearms have unique markings in a similar manner to fingerprints that enable this forensic examination to take place. NABIS analysts then disseminate this ballistic intelligence to Senior Investigating Officers to assist with convictions as in this case.”