A personal project looking at the underbelly of Manchester gangland culture.
The murder of David Barnshaw, 32
On the evening of the 20th of September 1999, David Barnshaw was kidnapped from the Moss Rose pub on Didsbury Road , bundled into the boot of his own car, a black Orion, and driven into a industrial estate, parking up in Welkin Road. There he was badly beaten, tortured and forced to drink petrol. His charred body was found in his burnt-out car some hours later.
Nobody has been convicted of David's murder to date.
The murder of Benji Stanley, 14
Benji Stanley was queuing for an order in Alvinos (now called Dougy's) , a Caribbean patty and dumpling shop on Western Street, Moss Side. On the evening of the 2nd of January 1993, a masked gunman stepped out of a white sports car, instantly firing 3 shots with a pump action shotgun through Alvinos' glass door. The final and fatal shot went through his chest. Nobody has been found guilty of Benji's murder and the case remains open.
The murder of Paul Massey , 55
Mark Fellows, “The Iceman” was reportedly paid £10,000 to carry out the contract on Paul Massey. The contract was taken out by the Anti-A Team, a break-away group fighting for power in the Salford’s underworld. Due to a police error, it took a further two years until he was arrested and charged for the murder of Paul Massey.
Mark Fellows was found guilty at Liverpool crown court and Judge Davis sentenced him to life without parole.
The murder of Giuseppe Gregory, 16
Giuseppe Gregory was assassinated on the evening of 11th May 2009. Two rival gangs wanted the Longsight turf and embarked on a violent and murderous campaign to take control. Giuseppe had been involved in the shooting of Louis Brathwaite a year earlier, in a betting shop . Hiruy Zerihun had been a boyhood friend of Louis Brathwaite and together with Njabulo Ndlovco executed Giuseppe Gregory in the car park of the Robin Hood pub, Stretford. Hiruy Zerihun was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
The murder of Rodger Ormsby, 35.
Rodger Ormsby was assassinated 5th January 2000. Rodger was found slumped at the wheel of his red 320 BMW in an alley off Milton Grove. He had been shot 3 times in the back of the head with a browning pistol. Rodger Ormsby, a father of three, had several businesses including a garage and a property company. He was known to the police for drug offences. At this time, it is unclear who assassinated Rodger Ormsby.
The murder of Dean Eccleston, 24
Dean Eccleston was assassinated in October 2001. Dean was shot seven times at close range in Shakespeare Walk, Chorlton-on-Medlock. Even though he was wearing a bullet proof vest at the time, it was not able to save his life. Gooch gang were thought to be responsible for the killing of Dean Eccleston. No one has been charged with his murder.
Graeme Duncan