Gang leader guilty of drive-by murder

Reporter: Pat Hurst
Date published: 07 April 2009


A violent gang which brought murder and mayhem to a city’s streets was smashed yesterday, with both its leaders and nine other members facing long jail terms.

Colin Joyce (29), the self-styled “General”, and Lee Amos (32) leaders of Manchester’s Gooch Gang, were both convicted of the drive-by killing of a mourner at the funeral of a man Joyce had “executed” months earlier.

The convictions can be reported after a judge lifted restrictions on the case at Liverpool Crown Court.

Joyce, who had the pockets of his jeans specially adapted to act as a gun holster, led the Gooch Gang in dealing drugs, torturing street dealers who crossed them and targeting rivals, culminating in the murders of Ucal Chin (24) and Tyrone Gilbert (23) who had links to the rival Longsight Crew.

Gang warfare erupted in the city in 2007 after the pair were released on licence. They were recalled for breaking their licences in late 2007.

Since then, police said, there has been a 92 per cent reduction in gang-related shootings in Manchester.

Also in the dock were Narada Williams (27) also known as “Yardie” and his brother Ricardo (26), Hassan Shah (25), and Aeeron Campbell (25), all senior members of the gang, while Aaron Alexander (22), Ricci Moss (21), Kayael Wint (20,) Gonoo Hussain (25), and Tyler Mullings (18) were “foot soldiers”.

All 11 gang members have now been found guilty of 26 of the 27 charges ranging from murder and gun possession to drug dealing. The jury failed to reach a verdict on one count of murder on Amos relating to Tyrone Gilbert.

The judge, Brian Langstaff, will sentence the gang later today.