Acting for the Prosecution, Chambers’ Shada Mellor, instructed as junior counsel and led by one of Trinity’s King's Counsel, secured convictions of murder of three men for the fatal shooting of a County Durham man. The trial was heard at Teesside Crown Court.
Sean Reay, 30, shot victim, Barry Dawson, 60, through the window of his home, while two other defendants, Kelvin Lawson, 38, and Thomas Sterling, 22, were also found guilty of murder under 'Joint Enterprise' principles.
During the course of the trial, three other defendants, Kevin Dorward, 38, Keith Dorward, 48, and Michaela Hetherington, 36, pleaded guilty to Perverting the Course of Justice in relation to the disposal of the car used in the murder. Kevin Dorward and Keith Dorward were found not guilty of murder.
The prosecution case involved the presentation to the Jury of extensive and complex evidence, including CCTV footage, mobile phone data and forensic material, which tracked the three defendants’ movements in the hours leading up to and after the murder.
Following a 4-week trial, Jurors returned a unanimous guilty verdict of those convicted of murder after almost two days of deliberation.
Commenting on the successful convictions, Andrea Milsom, Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS North East said:
“It is clear from the evidence in this case that Sean Reay pulled the trigger on the gun that took the life of Barry Dawson. It is also clear that the other two men convicted of murder alongside him intentionally assisted or encouraged him to carry out this act.
The Crown Prosecution Service has worked closely with Durham Constabulary to build a robust case against those convicted today. Thanks to an excellent investigation by our police partners, we have been able to draw upon hours of CCTV footage, digital phone records and forensics to meticulously piece together the actions of each person involved, both before and after the shooting, to secure these convictions today.”
Sentencing will take place at a date to be determined at Teesside Crown Court.
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