Three jailed for gangland killing

Three men who took part in a "cruel and callous" gangland killing on Tyneside have been jailed for a total of 38 years.

Dale Miller, Edward Stewart and Michael Dixon were sentenced for their roles in the death of Freddie Knights in September, 2000.

Mr Knights, 38, was shot in the head outside his mother's home in Newcastle as he called to collect birthday presents for one of his two children.

On Wednesday a judge lifted a ban on reporting the three month trial at Leeds Crown Court, which featured daily presence by armed police officers.

Mr Knights was shot in the head in September 2000

Miller, 38, of Cromwell Avenue, Gateshead, was jailed for 16 years after the jury acquitted him of murder, but found him guilty of manslaughter.

Stewart, 39, of Wickham, Newcastle, was also cleared of murder, but found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 13 years.

Dixon, 34, of Blackwell Avenue, Walker, Newcastle, was acquitted of murder and manslaughter, but found guilty of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent.

He was jailed for nine years.

Another man, John Henry Sayers, 38, of Coquet Terrace, Heaton, Tyne and Wear, was acquitted of murder and all other charges amid celebrations from his family in the public gallery.

Drug dealing

A fifth defendant, Lee Watson, 30, of Cedarwood Road, Gateshead, admitted murder and gave evidence for the prosecution in the trial.

He is due to be sentenced at a later date.

It was claimed Miller was paid to kill Mr Knights following gangland rivalries about drug dealing and protection rackets.

Mr Justice Brown told him: "I have little doubt that you were paid by someone to ambush and shoot a defenceless man with a sawn-off shotgun.

"It was a callous and cruel attack planned to be carried out on the doorstep of victim's mother.

"At close range your victim had no chance. You shot at him twice and with the second one shot him in the head."

The jury rejected the prosecution's case that Sayers masterminded the killing.

Armed security

Sayers insisted he had an alibi and accused Northumbria Police of setting him up.

The court heard Stewart was the getaway driver and Dixon provided support and back-up.

West Yorkshire Police and the Prison Service have refused to comment on the cost of the security operation, which saw defendants brought daily from prisons including Wakefield, Doncaster and Full Sutton, Humberside.

The trial saw a massive armed security operation with a helicopter-escorted convoy of vehicles bringing Leeds city centre to a standstill twice a day.

Inside the court building dozens of police armed with automatic weapons and carrying gas masks watched as special searches produced large queues for lawyers and other court users.