Hitman jailed for life for Edinburgh Hogmanay pub murder

Hitman jailed for life for Edinburgh Hogmanay pub murder

A hitman who took the life of a gangland rival outside a pub in Edinburgh on New Year’s Eve 2023 has been sentenced to life imprisonment. Grant Hunter, 34, admitted to the murder of Marc Webley as well as the attempted murder of another man, Stuart Pearson, who survived after being shot at the same incident. Hunter was sentenced to serve a minimum of 26 years in custody but was warned that he may never be released.

The fatal shooting occurred just before midnight outside the Anchor Inn in Granton, where Webley was celebrating with friends. Hunter approached Webley and Pearson, and following a short interaction, drew a gun and fired multiple shots at them. Court footage showed Webley, who was wearing a stab vest, attempting to flee but being shot in the back. He died shortly after from his injuries, while Pearson, a friend of Webley’s, survived despite being shot.

Marc Webley, aged 38 at the time of the killing, had a background in gang-related violence and was previously sentenced to 11 years in prison for attempted murder in 2005. In the days leading up to his murder, Webley had posted messages on social media challenging his rivals. Hunter pleaded guilty to the charges in November. Two others connected to the case also received prison sentences for their roles in trying to obstruct justice. Hunter’s former partner, 27-year-old Emma McVie, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for cleaning the getaway car and Hunter’s clothes, while 22-year-old Gary Robertson was given six years and six months for disposing of the firearm used in the attack.

At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Mulholland described Hunter’s actions as deliberate and calculated, noting that he fired four shots with the clear intention to kill Webley and also targeted another man who might have helped the victim. CCTV footage presented in court showed Hunter arriving in a stolen car, removing his balaclava so that Webley could identify him, which th

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