When Ezra Mills was found by the first police officers to arrive at the scene, he was lying on the ground, still clutching a carrier bag with a birthday card and homemade food his aunt had given him.

He was found in a footpath near Dwayne Lock’s flat in the Central Hill estate.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Hutchison, who investigated the case, said witnesses saw Mr Mills was approached by a group of men and shot at point blank range in the chest.

He said they reported Mr Mills staggered for about 10ft before hitting the ground.

Earlier that day, Mr Mills had been to his aunt’s house to celebrate his birthday.

In the evening, just before 10pm, she offered him a lift home, but after he received a phone call from a friend and asked her to drop him off at the Central Hill estate.

It is believed Mr Mills’ friend told him he had a fight with Lock a few days before outside a party in the estate and had another run-in that same day.

Prosecution believed Mr Mills’ friend said he would make himself scarce and not be seen around the estate for a while.

Mr Mills then went to Lock’s flat, but it was Lock’s girlfriend, Jessica Taylor, who came to the door.

She then called Lock, who was at the gang’s “bolt hole” with the other five killers, saying Mr Mills was there and wanted to see him.

Soon after that Mr Mills was shot.