Pair jailed for life for pub killing

Steven Landers was shot in a crowded pub

Two men who walked brazenly into their local pub and blasted another drinker to death before strolling out have been jailed for life.

Steven Landers, 37, from Dagenham, Essex, was killed in the White Horse pub in nearby Barking on the evening of 1 June this year.

On Thursday his killers Mark Trowbridge, 41, from Dagenham, and Gerald O'Callaghan, 49, from Barking, were convicted of his murder at St Albans Crown Court and jailed for life.

Mr Landers, who was quite drunk, had just taken part in a karaoke contest and was walking over to the pool table when he was attacked.

Trowbridge and O'Callaghan hit him around the head with the butt of a shotgun.

The judge described O'Callaghan as a "very dangerous man"

He fell to the ground and both men then shot him as he lay on the floor.

Both defendants were regulars in the pub but neither bothered to wear a mask or disguise their faces in any way.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin James, who led the investigation, said they presumed the witnesses in the pub would be too terrified to talk.

But they did come forward and he told BBC News Online: "No rewards were offered but they came forward out of civic duty and were extremely brave in the face of considerable intimidation.

Neither defendant has ever offered any explanation for their actions and never displayed any signs of remorse.

DCI Martin James

"If these witnesses had not come forward it would have been extremely difficult to have gained a conviction."

He said: "The shooting of Steven Landers can best be described as premeditated, callous and a summary execution.

"Neither defendant has ever offered any explanation for their actions and never displayed any signs of remorse. They acted with a total disregard for life.

Mark Trowbridge never gave a motive for the killing

"The jury have had the opportunity of reviewing the evidence, hearing from eye witnesses and have concluded that Trowbridge and O'Callaghan were responsible.

"The family and I would like to take this opportunity of expressing our thanks to all those members of the public who came forward and gave evidence for the Crown.

"The evidence which they provided has ensured that two violent men have been convicted and removed from the local community.

"My sympathies are with the family and I hope this verdict will assist them in their grieving process."

The judge praised witnesses who came forward and he said Trowbridge and O'Callaghan were "extremely dangerous men".

DCI James said: "The victim was a petty criminal and it could have been that there were respect issues but it would be wrong to speculate about the motive."