A teenager has been found guilty of Mark Hillman’s murder.
Brandon Bilsborough was unanimously convicted of the father-of-three’s killing in Lloyd Close, Everton on April 27 last year by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court.
The 19-year-old from Anfield broke down in tears as the verdict was delivered.
Mr Hillman suffered multiple gun shot wounds in his back just hours after he was slashed in the cheek by Bilsborough’s friend and ex-associate Connor Hunt.
Hunt, 18, was acquitted of murder but found guilty of wounding with intent following the knife attack earlier in the day, which was connected to drug dealing.
Paul John Smith was cleared of assisting an offender as well as wounding with intent after he drove Bilsborough to London City Airport in order to fly to Spain.
Brian Forshaw, Senior Crown Prosecutor with Mersey-Cheshire Crown Prosecution Service, said: “Drug dealers Hunt and Bilsborough had clearly been warning Mr Hillman off their “patch” in the days leading up to this tragedy and then used the pretext of Bilsborough’s grandmother’s funeral to make those threats even darker.
“Hunt slashed Hillman’s face and then, later in the day, Bilsborough shot him dead in a residential street. They then fled the scene and the country to escape justice.
“Bilsborough was prepared to go to any lengths to protect his drugs trade – even murder. The world of drugs is sordid, lethal and violent, as this case has shown.
“Those who make a living from it often end up as either victims of that violence or behind bars.”
Both Bilsborough and Hunt will be sentenced on February 27.