DOUBLE MURDER BID MAN GUILTY
Gun gang shot men in street
A man has been found guilty for his part in a double shooting on a Hamilton street.
William Edwards now faces a lengthy jail term after being convicted on Monday of two attempted murder charges.
He was in a three-strong gang who targeted James Mcsorley and Craig Burns in a lane in Hamilton.
The pair were gunned down in June 2016 – with Burns losing an eye in the attack.
Edwards was held months later in England after a high-profile appeal to catch him.
He denied being involved during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow and claimed: “I could not believe I had been arrested for something I had not done.”
Burns now has an artificial right eye and has been left with 54 gunshot pellets lodged in his head.
And Mcsorley told the trial: “I saw two boys with balaclavas and with guns.”
Asked what happened next, he said: “Bang – and that was me in hospital. It happened so fast.”
Edwards was remanded in custody pending sentencing in next month.
A man who claimed he should have got a medal for his part in a double shooting is behind bars.
William Edwards was in a threestrong gang who targeted James Mcsorley and Craig Burns in a lane in Hamilton.
The pair were gunned down in June 2016 – with Burns losing an eye in the attack.
Edwards – known as Billy – was held months later in England after a high-profile appeal to catch him.
Jurors heard a relative of his partner had apparently been picked on by Mcsorley.
It was while in a police cell, the 47-year-old boasted of being involved in the crime.
He was recorded stating: “We should get a medal, but you don’t get medals in these times.”
But, Edwards denied being involved during a trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
He claimed: “I could not believe I had been arrested for something I had not done.”
However, Edwards now faces a lengthy jail-term after being convicted on Monday of two attempted murder charges.
He was remanded in custody pending sentencing in Livingston next month.
Mcsorley (29) recalled how a car had “screeched” up as he walked with Burns and another man on June 27, 2016.
He told the trial: “I saw two boys with balaclavas and with guns.”
Prosecutor Bill Mcvicar asked what happened next.
Mcsorley said: “Bang – and that was me in hospital. It happened so fast.”
He said the driver of the car did not get out.
Asked was he trying to “protect” anyone by not identifying the attackers, he added: “No, I want justice for this. I want these boys off the street.”
Burns, meantime, also recalled the attack, adding: “I initially thought someone had thrown a bottle or something. I could not see anyone.”
The 33-year-old said he now has an artificial right eye and has been left with 54 gunshot pellets lodged in his head.
James Allan (32) also gave evidence. He was jailed for 12 years in 2017 after he pled guilty to attempting to murder Mcsorley and Burns.
An earlier hearing was told evidence pointed “strongly” to him firing a sawn-off shot gun.
Allan claimed he went after Mcsorley after he allegedly made a comment about one of his relatives.
But, Mr Mcvicar put to Allan that Edwards was the driver that day.
The prosecutor went on: “He was the man who wanted you to shoot Mcsorley because of his problems with his family.”
Allan said: “That’s not true.”
Edwards – who worked for an industrial cleaning company – was held in Croydon, South London, in October 2016. He insisted what he said in the police station was a “drunken rabble” adding the medal comment had been made to him by Allan. Asked had he wished Burns or Mcsorley harm, he told the trial: “No.” Lord Summers deferred sentencing for reports.
I saw two boys with balaclavas and with guns