Lee Subaran was shot in the neck and head

The men, part of the 'Mus Love Crew', shot at Mark Subaran, 27, as he ran through a crowd of revellers.

The Old Bailey heard Mr Subaran may have been killed because years before he stood up to one of the men over allegations of bullying.

Leon Roberts, 27, Tafari Dacas, 29, and Shane Taylor, 27, all from north-west London, denied murder.

Sentencing them, Judge Brian Barker said they acted apparently without motive and with ruthlessness and arrogance.

Appeal for calm

"By exercising your dominance, you acted in complete disregard to the law, society and members of the public who just wanted to enjoy the evening in a happy way," he added.

Roberts, from Kingsbury, and Dacas and Taylor, both of Willesden, shouted abuse as they were led to the cells and waved to their relatives.

Rebecca Poulet QC, prosecuting, said Mr Subaran had been at an end of carnival party.

There, he and his brother Tyrone found themselves surrounded by members of the Mus Love Crew.

They went together, all armed and ready to use these weapons in the event of the slightest provocation Rebecca Poulet QC

Some years before, Mr Subaran had stood up to one of the members who was bullying one of his friends, she said.

After being accused of showing the man disrespect, Mr Subaran pleaded for calm.

But three men pulled out guns and began firing at him as he ran through the crowd.

He was hit in the neck and back and had died by the time he reached hospital.

Miss Poulet said: "This was a gang attack. They went together, all armed and ready to use these weapons in the event of the slightest provocation."

The judge ordered them to serve a minimum of 30 years.

A fourth man, Tunde Thomas, 30, of Kensal Green, north-west London was cleared of murder.