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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Jonathan Humphries

Chilling CCTV of Rueben Murphy moments after cold-blooded killing

Extensive CCTV footage, crucial forensic evidence and their own stupidity helped put a pair of killer gun thugs behind bars after a young dad was gunned down in cold-blood.

Patrick Boyle, 26, was shot dead in Newway, Huyton, on July 1 last year. Police quickly established Mr Boyle had been chatting with two friends when a man carrying a pistol and wearing a mask pulled up on an electric bike and shot him twice in the chest from close range.

The killer, self-confessed drug dealer Rueben Murphy, also 26, claimed that when Mr Boyle was gunned down he was in a back garden in another part of Huyton, "off me head on ket". Murphy denied knowing or shooting Mr Boyle and insisted: "I might have sold drugs in the past, but I'm not a killer."

READ MORE: Man at centre of murder probe was on run accused of robbing two people

Murphy's close friend Ben Doyle helped plan the attack and rode to "within minutes" of the scene on the electric bike, with Murphy a pillion passenger. Doyle, 24, claimed the murder was committed by a mystery man, who he refused to name because he feared "retribution" and wasn't a "snitch".

Their feeble stories fell apart in the face of overwhelming evidence - some of which was almost handed to Merseyside Police detectives on a plate.

As the investigation progressed it emerged Murphy had a seemingly minor run-in with two men in Lyme Grove, Huyton, where Doyle lived. He told the jury he saw Frazer Brown, an associate of Mr Boyle, in that street at around 12.40pm.

According to Murphy's own evidence, Mr Brown owed him money over an old cannabis debt and "took the p***" out of him when he went to prison, and the two clashed. He said on the day of the murder Mr Brown chased him with a fence panel, before Doyle came out and told Mr Brown to "f*** off".

Ben Doyle, 24, performing a wheelie on an electric bike his friend Rueben Murphy was riding when he shot 26-year-old Patrick Boyle in Newway, Huyton, on July 1, 2021 (Merseyside Police)

Prosecutors suggested that sparked the murder plot, and Doyle's home became "the hub of the fatal attack".

The jury were told the two men made arrangements to get a loaded gun and a blue and white Sur-On electric bike. They said that bike, now partially disguised "in black bin bags", left the rear garden gate of a property two houses down from Doyle's home at 5.40pm.

It was alleged Doyle was on the bike and was soon joined by Murphy, who split from his associate and used the bike to travel to Newway and shoot Mr Boyle, just after 5.56pm. The jury watched footage of the masked gunman - wearing black gloves - then making his way to Barkbeth Road, where Murphy was living at the time, and go off camera for around eight minutes.

CCTV showed the rider - no longer wearing gloves and with the dark material wrapped around the bike no longer visible - then cycle to Lyme Grove, where he arrived by 6.08pm and spoke to Doyle. The cyclist went through the rear garden gate at 6.09pm and seconds later, Murphy was said to emerge.

A glove worn by Rueben Murphy when he shot 26-year-old Patrick Boyle in Huyton, on July 1, 2021 (Merseyside Police)

Police raided Murphy's home on July 6 and found a pair of gloves on top of a kitchen cupboard. The left glove revealed gunshot residue (GSR), which matched GSR inside two cartridge cases found at the scene of the shooting.

Inside the glove produced a mixed DNA profile, said to relate to four people, including Murphy. The DNA of a third man, 20-year-old Thomas Walker, was discovered on one of the bullet cartridges. The jury was directed to find Walker not guilty of murder after he admitted possessing ammunition without a certificate - on a date before the day of the shooting - which was accepted by the Crown.

Phone evidence, showing multiple calls and texts Murphy exchanged with Walker and Doyle that afternoon, were also important evidence.

Murphy and Doyle were each jailed for life, with Murphy receiving a 31-year minimum term and Doyle a 27-year minimum. During their sentencing hearing, wild-eyed Murphy ranted and raved at High Court judge Mr Justice Stephen Morris, calling him a "fat paedophile" and screaming "f*** the system".

A bullet casing used by Rueben Murphy during the murder of 26-year-old Patrick Boyle in Huyton, on July 1, 2021 (Merseyside Police)

Mr Boyle's mum, sister, dad and partner each said they believed they would "never get answers" as to why such a seemingly minor dispute led to their loved one being executed in cold blood.

Passing sentence, Judge Morris said: "This was a brazen and shocking attack, leading to the senseless death of a young man. At no stage have either of you shown remorse for what you have done nor for the enduring misery that you have caused to others."

During the hearing, Mr Boyle's partner, Miss Deans, read a harrowing victim impact statement to the court. She said: "I was nine weeks pregnant when Paddy was killed by these evil people. We were both so excited to be a little family and were excited for our first scan so we could tell our families our happy news.

"All this didn’t happen because of the two defendants. He never got to go to our first scan or got to find out what we were having or be at the birth. They have robbed our son of ever meeting his amazing daddy, us both of our future as a family and memories, no photographs to show him when he’s older of us together as a family.

“I didn’t just lose my boyfriend on July 1, 2021, but my best friend and soul mate too. Paddy was my safe place and biggest adventure. He was taken far too soon."

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