Life for Vinny Waddington's killers
18 year old was shot dead in Garston last summer
Vincent Waddington was fatally wounded after he was shot in cold blood in Garston on Tuesday, 14 July 2015. Luke Kendrick, 26 and Ryan Bate, 24, have today, Friday 27 May, been found guilty of the murder of Vincent Waddington and the grievous bodily harm of Francis Humphries. Both were also sentenced to six years imprisonment for wounding which will run concurrently. Both were given life sentences. Kendrick was told he must serve 25 years in prison, while Bate must serve 24 years. Vincent was the pillion passenger on a motorbike when he was fatally shot on Banks Road, Garston. Detective Inspector Nick Price said: "The suffering Vincent endured and the pain and heartbreak inflicted on his family can never be taken back, but I hope today’s conviction gives his family some sense of justice and closure.
"This has been a difficult and complex investigation and I would like to thank the investigation team for their professionalism and commitment throughout the enquiry. "I would also like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service and the prosecution team for their support throughout this case. "The investigation team is also appealing for the whereabouts of David Ungi, 24 years, who we believe may have further information about Vincent’s death and any information about his whereabouts would be gratefully received. "I would also like to ask for identified witnesses who were at the scene and previously reluctant to assist the enquiry team to now come forward.” Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Richardson, head of Matrix, said: "We are relentless in our pursuit against those involved in gun crime and I hope today’s conviction sends out a clear message that violence on our streets will not be tolerated by Merseyside Police, nor by the communities we serve – you will be caught and brought to justice.
"This case shows the harrowing effects of gun crime and has changed the lives of so many people. "A young man who should have been looking forward to the experiences of the rest of his life, a family torn apart by grief and a community shocked and frightened by the fact that people feel that they can use firearms on their streets.
"Finally I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to our communities for information which could help is to take positive action against those involved in gun crime, as we have done today, and make our streets safer. "The Force has made significant inroads in to disrupting guncrime and taking guns off the streets but there are still people in our communities who think it is okay to fire a gun. "They don’t care about the communities where they live, the lives they’re disrupting or the consequence of their actions."
"If you have any information about gun crime in your area, please contact the Matrix guncrime hotline on 0800 230 0600 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."