A man has been jailed for life for the premeditated “execution” of a gangland figure who was gunned down in broad daylight in a busy supermarket car park.
Kevin “Gerbil” Carroll, 29, was shot dead in front of horrified shoppers as he sat in his car outside Asda in Robroyston, Glasgow, on January 13 2010.
William Paterson, 35, was convicted of the “vicious and brutal” murder following a two-week trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
Judge Lord Armstrong sentenced him to life imprisonment and ordered him to serve at least 22 years before he can be considered for release.
The judge told Paterson: “The attack took place in a very public place, in the car park of a busy supermarket, where, as a result, ordinary members of the public, going about their everyday business, were put at risk from gunfire.”
The court heard that Paterson was acting with others when he murdered Carroll.
Immediately following the killing, he fled the country in a bid to dodge justice, but was arrested last year in Spain.
A jury convicted him of the murder and charges surrounding the possession of prohibited weapons and ammunition.
Passing sentence, Lord Armstrong said: “Your victim was murdered in the most vicious and brutal manner.”