Chilling moment dad is shot dead in ‘execution-style murder’ by e-bike gunman in front of his horrified son
CHILLING footage shows the moment a dad was shot dead in an “execution-style murder” in front of his son.
Rikki Berry, 36, died after he was shot three times by Michael Smith, 27, who was riding an electric bike while wearing a balaclava.
The dad was at home in Kirby, Merseyside, with his partner and young children when the biker shot him four times, with three bullets hitting their intended target.
Cold-blooded killer Smith was travelling in a convoy with two others in a car who oversaw the killing – driver Adam Williams, 26, and passenger Connor Walsh, 26.
Horrifying CCTV footage showed Smith riding his e-bike towards the house with a black balaclava covering his face.
He then fired four shots towards Mr Berry from a semi-automatic handgun.
Smith was then seen accelerating away, leaving the father with “catastrophic” injuries.
Some of the shots passed straight into the house, the court heard, including one which struck a football trophy won by Mr Berry’s son.
Mr Berry, who was nicknamed Nuggy, staggered into the kitchen after being shot and told Miss Newhall to “get the kids out”, the court heard.
All three men were jailed for life in a sentencing hearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, February 18.
Telephone evidence showed the three men were in contact with each other in the run-up to the murder, and were all together in the black Cupra Ateca car minutes before the shooting.
Williams and gunman Smith must serve at least 31 years in jail before they can be considered for release, while car passenger Walsh must serve at least 30 years.
Victim personal statements from the two children were read in court today by prosecution junior counsel Henry Riding.
The boy told his killers he and his sister faced growing up without a father.
“I had to watch as my dad died,” his statement said.
“I have since had to bury him and watch the footage of him being shot dead before it was released for everyone to see.
“I have had to see so many horrendous things, I hate you all for what you have done to me and my family.”
The words of his little sister read: “I will never forget you daddy, I see you in my dreams, love your little darling.”
The court also heard Mr Berry’s mother, Donna, was so heartbroken “she didn’t have the strength to go to his funeral“.
All three men pleaded not guilty after being charged with murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
But part-way through the trial, car driver Williams and passenger Walsh named Smith as the gunman.
Smith had initially denied any involvement in the shooting but admitted being the gunman after his co-defendants turned on him – although he denied murder on the basis the shots were not intended to cause serious injury.
The court heard all three killers were involved in Class A drug dealing, and Walsh and Smith had both worked for Williams at various points.
However, all three were found guilty of both charges after a trial lasting nearly four weeks and the trio were jailed for life.
‘EXECUTION’
Senior Crown Prosecutor Nicola Wyn Williams said: “This was a shocking, execution-style murder committed on a summer evening in July.
“Rikki Berry was at home with his partner and young children when four shots were fired at him by Smith.
“It was only a matter of chance that no-one else was injured or killed by the gunman’s actions.
“The gunman was not acting alone. The car and bike were acting in tandem. All three defendants had a role to play.
“Within three weeks of the shooting, Merseyside Police had identified the defendants as suspects, the Crown Prosecution Service had authorised murder charges and all three were before the court.
“This has been a difficult and dynamic case. I’m grateful to all those involved in supporting the investigation and prosecution in achieving today’s convictions.”
Judge Andrew Menary KC, passing sentence, said the shooting showed a “reckless arrogance similar to the lawlessness of the wild west.”
He said the precise motive for the shooting, other than a vague mention of a “beef” between Williams and some of Mr Berry’s friends, remained a “mystery”.
He told the defendants the “futile” shooting had “achieved nothing other than the destruction of one life and destruction of the futures of all three of you.”