Three Men Sentenced for Murder of Rikki Berry in Liverpool Court

Three men will get sentenced today. They planned to shoot Rikki Berry. He was 36 and known as “Nuggy.” Someone shot him three times outside his girlfriend’s house. The shooter wore a balaclava and rode an electric bike during the shooting last July in Kirkby.

Michael Smith, Adam Williams, and Connor Walsh were on trial at Liverpool Crown Court. They faced murder charges, and the jury, consisting of eight men and four women, found them guilty of murder and possessing a firearm to endanger life on February 14.

The jury deliberated for almost eight hours, leading to loud reactions in the public gallery. Some family members of Mr. Berry cried as Smith, Williams, and Walsh will learn their punishment today at court.

Williams, 26, from St Helens, drove the getaway SUV. This black SUV followed the electric bike, and Smith was the gunman during the drive-by attack.

Before the shooting, they conducted a “reconnaissance mission.” They watched their victim at his home. Williams and Walsh denied involvement, claiming they didn’t know about the “execution.”

The driver stated he stopped near Berry’s house, and then the e-bike rider appeared. He shot Berry after someone reported a shout. Ryan Westhead mentioned that the victim had yelled.

Walsh’s DNA was found on a bullet casing and the gun’s magazine. Later, Walsh, 26, returned to the scene with his young son and nephew.

Smith, 25, from Marbury Road, admitted manslaughter and firearm possession, changing his plea during the trial. He said he only meant to cause fear, not harm, and he didn’t testify.