Three guilty of grandmother's shooting murder

Three men have been found guilty of the murder of a grandmother who was shot in her home on Merseyside.

Jacqueline Rutter, 53, was shot in the chest in Moreton, Wirral, at about 01:00 GMT on 30 October 2022.

Simon Allen, 55, of no fixed address, David Harrison, 59, of Pensby, Wirral, and James Byrne, 24, of no fixed address, were found guilty of murder, arson and possession of firearms and ammunition at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, a spokesman for Merseyside Police said.

Barrie Glynn, 47, of Heswall, Wirral, was convicted of manslaughter, possession of firearms and ammunition and arson.

The court heard how at 01:00 GMT three men arrived at Jacqueline's address in a black Vauxhall Insignia car. Two passengers got out of the back of the car, one of which was Byrne, and went to the front door.

She was shot twice after she answered her door after Byrne and another passenger got out of a black Vauxhall Insignia, police said.

The two men then got back into the car, which was later set alight in Moreton by Allen.

Harrison was involved in transporting the men before and after the murder and assisted in the clear-up operation.

The four men then fled the scene, three in the silver car and one on the motorbike.

"Our thoughts today are very much with the family of Jacqueline who was known by them and her friends as Jackie," Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, of Merseyside Police, said.

"Her family are completely devastated by what happened to the mother of six children and grandmother to five grandchildren and it has been heart-breaking for them to relive her final moments during this trial.

"We only hope that the decision today after such a lengthy trial will bring some closure to Jackie's family as her killers are bought to justice."

The sentencing will take place on Thursday at 11:30 GMT.

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