Raoul Moat's henchmen convicted of helping him carry out massacre

Raoul Moat's henchmen convicted of helping him carry out massacre

 

Two men were facing jail last night for conspiring with Raoul Moat and acting as his henchmen during his murderous rampage.

Karl Ness and Qhuram Awan broke down in the dock as they were convicted of assisting the gunman, who shot three people, killing one, throughout the plot.

Ness, 26, was convicted of murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life for which he will receive a mandatory life sentence.

Facing jail: Karl Ness, left, and Qhuram Awan. Ness was convicted of murder and both men were convicted of conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and robbery

Tears: Samantha Stobbart, who was shot in the stomach by Raoul Moat, wipes her eyes today after the verdict at Newcastle Crown Court

Both defendants were found guilty of conspiracy to murder, attempted murder and robbery.

Pc David Rathband, who was left blinded when Moat shot him in the face, hugged his sobbing wife Kath in the public gallery as the verdicts were delivered.

Both defendants appeared to collapse when they learned their fate and held their heads in their hands for several minutes.

They had previously told the jury at Newcastle Crown Court that they were held hostage by Moat, who killed himself during a stand-off with police in Rothbury, Northumberland.

But the jury convicted them of being willing accomplices after hearing that Ness and Awan helped Moat stay one step ahead of the law during his rampage in July last year.

Ness, of Dudley, North Tyneside, had been with steroid addict Moat on the night he executed karate expert Christopher Brown, 29, the new boyfriend of his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart.

After Mr Brown was murdered, Moat turned his gun on Miss Stobbart, 22, leaving her fighting for her life in hospital as Moat's former business partner Ness waited nearby.

Just before the murder, Moat sent Ness a message saying of his ex-girlfriend and Mr Brown: 'Slagging me off good and proper. Just watch. Lol.'

Long wait: PC David Rathband, blinded after being blasted in the face by Moat, with his wife Kath today, who broke down in tears as the verdict was delivered

Touching moment: The Rathbands kiss after leaving court following the jury's decision

While in prison, Moat had also ordered Ness to spy on her to catch her with a new man.

Part-time mechanic and doorman Awan, 23, of Blyth, Northumberland, helped the pair after the first shooting by driving a getaway car to a woodland hideout.

The next day, Awan was driving 37-year-old Moat when they came across Northumbria Police traffic officer Pc Rathband’s car.

Shopping for supplies: Ness, 26, and Awan, 23, at a Sainsbury's store in Alnwick buying equipment for Moat

Getaway car: The Lexus owned by Awan who drove Ness and Moat about during the rampage

 

Moat shot the 43-year-old and left him for dead. The court also heard that shortly before attacking the Pc, Moat rang 999 to tell police he was ‘hunting for officers’.

Ness and Awan then helped the fugitive rob a Northumberland chip shop and set up his campsite in a farmer's field.

Throughout the trial, the pair maintained they went along with Moat's demands only because they feared for their lives and those of their families.

Vindictive: Moat (left) killed Chris Brown because he was jealous he was going out with his ex-girlfriend

 

Crucial evidence against the accomplices included ‘hostage’ letters which proved the men were pretending to be held against their will.

In one letter seized by detectives, Awan wrote to his sister: ‘It's my friend that's holding me 'hostage'.

‘I'm actually safer than safe. I'm actually in a safe location out of harm's way. Burn this letter after you have read it.’

Support: Ness joins Moat, left, on a supplies trip to B&Q in Newcastle

CCTV footage showed the pair looking calm and relaxed as they ran errands for the killer during his rampage.

Kingsley Hyland, a senior CPS lawyer, said outside court: ‘It was the Crown's case that Karl Ness and Qhuram Awan, at different times, willingly engaged with Moat in full knowledge of what his intentions were.

‘The jury have accepted that. Ness and Awan will now have a considerable time to reflect upon the consequences of allying themselves to Moat and his murderous intentions.’

Impromptu campsite: Ness helped pitch the tent Moat hid in while on the run

Outside court Pc Rathband said: ‘My family and I are extremely pleased with the verdicts that have been delivered.’

He branded the accomplices ‘liars’, adding: ‘I have a lifetime to live and they have a lifetime to reflect. I am sure I am in a better place than them.’

Sentencing was adjourned until Tuesday.

Evidence: A letter sent by Awan to his sister. It helped tip police off over where Moat was hiding