Four men are found guilty of killing man, 24, who was shot in the head and back as he sat in a parked car alongside his cousin as their motive remains a mystery
- Dwaine Junior Haughton, 24, was shot in Wolverhampton on July 20 last year
- Now, two men, who can’t be named, 25 and 26, have been found guilty of murder
- Montell Gray, 22, and Seamus Williams, 23, earlier found guilty of manslaughter
- All four men due to sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 1
Four men have been found guilty over the fatal shooting of a man who was gunned down while he sat in a parked car – but the motive remains a mystery.
Dwaine Junior Haughton, 24, was shot in the head and back as he sat in his blue Peugeot 207 in Wolverhampton on July 20 last year.
Now, two men aged 25 and 26 – who cannot be named for legal reasons – have been found guilty of murder.
Two other defendants, Montell Gray, 22, and Seamus Williams, 23, were found guilty of manslaughter following a six-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Dwaine Junior Haughton, 24, (pictured) was shot in the head and back in Wolverhampton on July 20 last year
Montell Gray, 22, (right) and Seamus Williams, 23, (left) were found guilty of manslaughter following a six-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court
The trial heard that all four men were seen travelling in a car that pulled up on Valley Road, Park Village, before a gunman opened fire with a shotgun on a dark blue Peugeot 207.
Mr Haughton’s cousin, who was in the driver’s seat at the time, managed to escape uninjured.
Mr Haughton was driven to hospital with critical injuries but despite the best efforts of medics, he was pronounced dead in the early hours of July 21.
A post-mortem confirmed he died from a gunshot wound to the left side of his face and shoulder.
Witnesses told police they saw a car speeding away from the scene straight after the shooting.
That vehicle was identified as a gun metal grey Audi A7, which was later recovered after being set on fire outside Wades Scrapyard on Webb Street, Coseley.
As a result the 26-year-old man who cannot be named was arrested in the Bilston area of Wolverhampton on July 27 last year, initially on suspicion of arson and handling stolen goods.
Officers recovered two shotguns and ammunition from a garage in Wolverhampton during their investigation into the murder (pictured, one of the shotguns)
Damage to the blue Peugeot 207 Dwaine Haughton was sat in when he was shot dead in Wolverhampton on July 20, 2018 (right a smashed window, and left dents on the frame)
His arrest was the first step in a large scale police investigation which saw CCTV footage seized from more than 100 premises.
Forensics and painstaking phone analysis all helped detectives identify and track the movements of the suspects in the days leading up to the fatal shooting.
A total of 10 warrants were executed during the operation. These included the home addresses of the suspects, and addresses they were known to have visited before and after Mr Haughton was fatally shot.
The warrants secured vital evidence, including CCTV of the quartet printing false number plates which were displayed on the Audi at the time of the offence.
Officers recovered two shotguns and ammunition from a garage on Hackford Road in Wolverhampton. DNA found on some of the ammunition was forensically linked to Gray.
In January this year, all four men were charged with murder, as well as possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life, and handling stolen goods.
Williams and the two men who cannot be named were also charged with arson in relation to the burnt out car.
DNA found on some of the ammunition recovered during their investigation (left and right) was forensically linked to Montell Gray
Now, two men aged 25 and 26 – who cannot be named for legal reasons – have been found guilty of murder. Two other defendants, Montell Gray, 22, and Seamus Williams, 23, were found guilty of manslaughter following a six-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.
Despite a huge scale police investigation and countless police interviews with both suspects and witnesses, the motive for Mr Haughton’s murder remains unknown.
All four suspects denied the charges despite overwhelming evidence linking the men to each other, the Audi A7 and the shooting.
But following a six-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, the two men who cannot be named were found guilty of murder.
Williams, and Gray, both of, Wolverhampton, were found guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
All four men have been found guilty of all the other charges faced. They are due to be sentenced on November 1.
Speaking after the verdict, Detective Inspector Nicholas Barnes, from West Midlands Police’s homicide team, said: ‘These four men a showed complete disregard for human life when they fired those shots into that car and it’s only through luck alone that others weren’t killed as a result of their actions.
‘I’m glad that the jury were able to see that this was nothing short of a calculated and pre-meditated murder.
‘My thoughts remain with Dwaine’s family – particularly his cousin who was in the car with Dwaine when he shot – and I hope find some comfort in today’s convictions.’
DI Barnes also sought to reassure the community of the force’s ongoing commitment to tackling gun crime.
DI Barnes said: ‘We have a dedicated gangs unit which is dedicated to dealing with gun and gang crime and have made some significant arrests and seizures of firearms and ammunition over the last few months.
‘Recent court cases have shown that gun criminals can expect to spend many, many years behind bars – police and the courts simply won’t tolerate the use or possession of illegal firearms.’
In a statement, Mr Haughton’s heartbroken family said: ‘Dwaine was a family man.
‘His smile lit up every room he walked into. He was such a big character and his death has left a hole in the hearts of all that knew him.
‘As a family it is hard to understand why he was taken in such a tragic way. He will never be forgotten.’
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