These are the faces of four men convicted of murder after beating a teenager to death in a Liverpool city centre internet café.
Keiron Williams, Anthony Williams, Michael Williams and Steven McInerney were found guilty of murdering 18-year-old Michael Toohey on Friday afternoon. Today, Monday, a 14-year-old was also convicted of the same count by a jury following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Merseyside Police have now released custody pictures of the three brothers and 33-year-old McInerney. The youth cannot be identified for legal reasons, with all five to be sentenced at a later date which is yet to be fixed.
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Jurors were previously told that Mr Toohey got off a bus on London Road shortly before 5.30pm on Saturday, April 16 2022, and met up with two friends in the area around Monument Place. Gordon Cole KC, prosecuting, described how he was spotted there by the 14-year-old, who was at the Tesco Express store bordering the square.
The boy then called 25-year-old Michael Williams - of Carlake Grove in Walton - in order to alert him to the teen's presence. Williams rang his brother, 32-year-old Anthony Williams, who in turn phoned another brother - 28-year-old Keiron Williams, of no fixed address but formerly of Grieve Road in Fazakerley.
The latter made his way to the scene in a white Volkswagen Golf and pursued Mr Toohey across Monument Place, the victim having initially fled on a bicycle which he ditched before running into Mobiles Junction and Internet Café. He vaulted the counter in a bid to "hide, seek refuge or escape" then went into a staff-only back room, where he was attacked.
Michael Williams drove himself and four others - 21-year-old Callum Hewell, of Stratton Road in Kirkby, 20-year-old Jack Knox, of Oakdale Close in Kirkby, 26-year-old David Shelley, of Chiltern Drive in Kirkby, and 25-year-old Matthew Wynn, of Mosslawn Road in Kirkby - to the shop in a silver Ford Tourneo people carrier. Anthony Williams - now of Hillbrook Drive in Walton - and 33-year-old Steven McInerney, who shared a flat on Bridport Street in the city centre, arrived on bikes.
The youth - who was described as being "instrumental", having "in effect called in" his co-defendants - also entered before Mr Toohey was subjected to a "quick but deadly attack". He was knocked to the floor, kicked and stamped on during this assault.
CCTV captured the defendant leaving the premises after around a minute. Police attended scene shortly before 6pm, finding Mr Toohey unresponsive.
He was rushed to the Royal Liverpool Hospital, but was pronounced dead at 6.46pm. The trial, which began in late November, heard that the teen had been pressured into selling drugs by a man referred to as "Gerry", with the incident coming against the background of a "war" between rival dealers.
The Williams brothers claimed that they raced to the scene after being told that Mr Toohey had threatened the boy with a knife. The teen was then said to have brandished this weapon once pursued into the shop.
Hewell, Shelley, and Knox were all found not guilty of his murder and manslaughter last week. Wynn was also cleared on Monday.
Detective Chief Inspector Stephen McGrath said following today's verdict: "This was a truly shocking and brutal assault which led to the tragic and senseless death of a young man - Michael Toohey, who was about to be become a father. The tragic assault of that day which led to his death is abhorrent.
"Michael had not long arrived in the city centre to meet friends when he was tracked down and fatally assaulted. Nobody can begin to understand the impact and the circumstances of his sudden death has had on his family and friends.
"Nothing can bring Michael back, but I hope that this conviction of Kieran Williams, Anthony Williams, Michael Williams, Steven McInerney and the 14-year male will give Michael’s family a sense of justice."
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