Film will retell gangland murder

Dennis Stafford and Michael Luvaglio always protested their innocence

A multi-million pound film is to be made about one of the North East's most notorious gangland murders.

The £3.7m ($6m) King of the North, will focus on the murder of fruit machine cash collector Angus Sibbet, who was shot near Sunderland in 1967.

The murder became the inspiration for the 1971 film Get Carter, which starred Michael Caine.

Now a Sunderland-based team plans to tell the real story of what became known as the "one-armed bandit murder."

Two local men, Dennis Stafford and Michael Luvaglio, were both given life sentences for Sibbet's murder at a subsequent trial.

Both men, who denied any involvement, were released on licence in 1979.

Sunderland-based Tanner Films, founded by local writer Patrick Lavelle, plans to begin shooting the film using original locations later this year.

Angus MacFadyen has been signed to play the lead role in the film

Angus MacFadyen, who featured in Mel Gibson's Braveheart, has been signed up to play the lead role and the film will be directed by London-based Myles Thomas.

News of backing from American production company MonteCristo International, came at the recent Cannes Film Festival.

Mr Thomas said: "This is a great story and if it had happened anywhere other than the North East it would have been made many years ago."

Mr Lavelle added: "I'm delighted that after all the hard work put in we have finally secured a deal with a reputable American co-producer and sales agent.

"I'm particularly pleased for the North East private investors who have put their faith and their money into this project. They believed in it from day one."