Six Jailed Over Mills Murder

A gang who murdered a man and terrorised a south London estate, have been jailed for over 100 years.

Marcel Mason, 21, Trevelle Williams, 18, Dwayne Lock, 21, Robert Saint, 20, David Smith, 22, and a 16 year-old boy were today convicted at the Old Bailey of the murder of Ezra Mills back in March 2010.

On the night they murdered Ezra, the group had already fired a pump action shotgun at members of a rival group who dared to enter what they considered to be 'their' estate.

Mason, Williams, Saint, Smith and the 16 year old boy were on the estate armed with a shotgun.

Ezra turned 22 the day before he died and had spent the evening of his murder with his aunt.

Around 9pm, Ezra's aunt drove him to the Central Hill estate where he had arranged to meet a friend.

Ezra's friend later called him to say he couldn't meet up with him on the estate because of what he called 'a madness' with Mason the previous evening.

The incident refers to Williams, Lock and Mason turning up uninvited to a party and causing trouble. When Ezra's friend tried to coax them away, Mason head butted him.

Ezra tried to smooth things over by calling a member of the group, Dwayne Lock, whom he knew. However Ezra's calls were unanswered.

At 9.55pm Ezra was caught on CCTV in Wychwood Way not far from Lock's mother's address.

Lock received a call informing him there was a young man at his mother's door who said he was a friend but didn't give his name.

Witnesses described how upon receiving the call Lock, Williams, Mason, Saint, Smith and the 16 year old left the address. Mason was carrying a shotgun.

At 9.59pm, Ezra was captured on CCTV for the last time, walking away from Lock's mother's address.

Police officers later found the lifeless body of Ezra lying in Oakwood Drive. He was shot in the chest at close range with a pump action shotgun. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detective Chief Inspector Neil Hutchison, Trident, said: "The men who murdered Ezra appear to have considered themselves invulnerable from the law due to the fear they instilled on the estate.

"Ezra Mills was alone, he was not linked to gangs, had no involvement in gun crime or the supply of drugs. He was still holding a bag with his birthday card in it when he was shot.

"Today's convictions are thanks largely to the bravery of a small number of people who overcame their fear to stand up in court and gave evidence.

"I wish to offer my condolences to the family of Ezra Mills whose fortitude and dignity has been an inspiration to the officers investigating his murder."

(BMcN/GK)