MURDER GANG JAILED FOR 59 YEARS
‘Top dog’ Harvey settled drug debts before fixing teeth and jetting off
THREE members of a gang involved in a murder spree have been jailed for a minimum of 59 years.
Barry Harvey, Thomas Guthrie and Darren Owen were found guilty after a 12-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Former Partick footballer-turned-assassin Harvey was convicted of gunning down gym boss and dad Gary More, 32, on the doorstep of his Airdrie home in September 2018.
The 35-year-old, called a “coldblooded killer” by prosecutors, was paid for the hit which saw him splash out on “Turkey teeth”.
Harvey was also later involved in the attempted murder of drug dealer and dog breeder Scott Bennett, 43, who was shot outside a vet’s in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, in December 2018.
Guthrie, already serving a life sentence as the getaway driver in the More killing, was convicted for his role in the Bennett attack.
The 27-year-old was separately guilty of the slashing in the attempted murder of lawyer Joe Shields, 68, outside his office close to Glasgow Sheriff Court on July 19, 2018.
Owen, 23, was found to have murdered Rafal Lyko, 36, whose remains were found in a burnedout Mercedes in Blantyre, Lanarkshire, in February 2019.
Co-accused Thomas Wilson, 26, was found not guilty of murdering Lyko.
Owen was further convicted over the shooting of Bennett.
It is believed the gang are linked to Barry and James Gillespie, whose network once spanned the globe.
Ex-Partick youth player Harvey was caged in 2007 for nine years for a knife attack on Thomas McCairns.
The hitman was described to a court as being an “enforcer” and “top dog” while “subservient” Guthrie did his bidding. Guthrie had a minimum of eight years added to his earlier life sentence which was due to expire in 2041.
Owen was sentenced to life with a minimum of 22 years.
The High Court in Glasgow heard that More owed a drug debt of £100,000. He was repeatedly visited by Neil Anderson, who was later given a life sentence for his involvement.
Guthrie and Harvey went on a reconnaissance mission the night before More was murdered.
The Skoda getaway car was spotted near More’s home around 10pm. Guthrie’s phone made a call for a taxi from his house to Maryhill where Harvey’s girlfriend Carla Montgomery lived.
The next day More was lured
Funding of ‘Turkey teeth’ from payment of murder
Prosecutor lorraine glancy on harvey
out by Anderson. The Skoda then pulled up and gunman Harvey, who was covered up, emerged.
Harvey blasted More nine times in the head and body.
Prosecutor Lorraine Glancy said: “Harvey was a cold-blooded killer carrying out a job or hit for payment which went to his house and a holiday to Krakow with his girlfriend.
“There was funding of ‘Turkey teeth’ acquired by Harvey. The Crown say this is additional expenditure which arises from the payment for the murder of Mr More.”
Guthrie was earlier involved in the attempted murder of solicitor Joseph Shields near his office.
Mr Shields defended a Scots crime gang headed by David Sell, who was caged for 16 years in 2018 for abducting and torturing drug dealer Robert Allan. Bennett was shot once on the head in his van outside a vet’s in Rutherglen.
After the shooting, Harvey and his girlfriend went to Australia, with flights costing £1000. Bennett was locked up for four years and eight months in 2022 after he pled guilty to being involved in serious organised crime and supply of drugs.
Pole Lyko was murdered and left in a burning car which Miss Glancy stated was related to “drugs and drug debt”. He told his cousin he was to return to Scotland to be set up with a job in Valencia to work off the debt.