Trio jailed for 67 YEARS after gangland execution

THREE killers who gunned down a man in a cold-blooded execution at his home have been jailed for a total of 67 years.

Graham Williamson, 26, was targeted with a sawn-off shotgun following a ‘toxic feud’.

Derek Felvus, 25, Thomas Duris, 28, and 26-year-old James Baillie were jailed for life yesterday at the High Court in Edinburgh after being convicted of the murder, which was committed on August 17, 2020.

Felvus and Duris were ordered to serve at least 23 years before they can seek release. Baillie was ordered to serve 21 years.

Judge Lord Fairley said: ‘This was a premeditated murder organised and carried out by professional drug dealers to further their criminal interests.’

He said evidence in a trial last month showed that all three participated in the plan to murder Mr Williamson before Duris shot him in Blantyre, Lanarkshire. The judge added: ‘The motive for the murder seems to have been to try to re-establish the dominance and criminal reputation of a substantial operation for the sale of class-A drugs that was then being run jointly by you Mr Felvus and Mr Duris.

‘That operation had apparently, on the evidence I heard, funded a lifestyle of relative luxury enjoyed by both of you.’

The trio had earlier denied murdering Mr Williamson.

The trial heard of a ‘toxic feud’ between drug dealer Felvus and Mr Williamson and his friends. There were several incidents in the lead up to the fatal shooting, including Mr Williamson’s car being torched.

The victim was shot at his home as he dealt with a recovery firm called out to collect his burnt-out car. As he went into the back garden a gunman came from behind and fired at him before returning to a stolen Skoda used in the hit.

Duris was later extradited from Spain to stand trial for the murder.