Nine people have been convicted of murder after a Nottingham man was fatally stabbed in a case of mistaken identity.

And a local woman has been convicted by a justy of involvement with the crime - driving the murderers to the place where the act took place.

Michael Anton O'Connor (31) was attacked outside a property in Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows, Nottingham shortly after 10.20pm on 10 November 2021.

A subsequent police investigation found the murder was the culmination of a drug war which had broken out between two rival organised crime groups – each vying for control of the local drugs market.

In October 2022, eleven people went on trial at Nottingham Crown Court accused of his murder. On Monday (12 June 2023), nine of those defendants were found guilty of murder and a further two also were found guilty of other crimes.

(Image - Macclesfield Nub News)

One of these latter two is Gemma Fearon, 38 of Dean Bank Close, Bollington.

She had denied a charge of encouraging and assisting the killers by driving the 'hit team' to and from the scene of the murder. A jury were unconvinced by her denial and found her guilty.

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In total 13 people were on trial and those found guilty will be sentenced next week.

The nine found guilty of murder.

Found guilty of murder were:

1. Benjamin Taylor, (38), of Monton Road, Eccles, Manchester. Sent a team of dealers from Manchester down to Nottingham to carry out the murder.
2. Leonard Ward, (42), of Marwood Road, Carlton. Head of Meadows-based organised crime gang (OCG) that ordered the killing.
3. Joseph Boscombe, (41), of Rostherne Avenue, Manchester. Part of the 'hit team' sent to carry out the murder.
4. Joshua Agboola, (30), of Leven Grove, Darwen, Blackburn. Part of the 'hit team' sent to carry out the murder.
5. Carla McGuire, (53), of Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows, Notts. Lives at property next to where Mr O'Connor was murdered. Accused of turning off CCTV at her property just before the attack was carried out. Linked to Meadows-based OCG that ordered the killing.
6. Michael Mingoes, (21), of Powell Street, Manchester. Part of the 'hit team' sent to carry out the murder – believed to have dealt the fatal blow.
7. Jerome Sheard, (31), of Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows, Notts. Leonard Ward's right-hand man and son of Carla McGuire. Member of Meadows-based OCG that ordered the killing.
8. Paula Usherwood, (39), of Central Avenue, Beeston. Set up the ambush by meeting the intended target on the morning of the murder.
9. Michael McGuire, (35), of Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows, Notts. Son of Carla McGuire and living with her at property next to where murder took place.

Kerry-Anne Shepherd, 35, of Plantagenet Street, St Ann's, Nottingham denied assisting an offender but was on Monday found guilty.

Macclesfield: For more information on this case, please head to the Nottinghamshire Police website.