Mac-10 killer to 'die behind bars' after murdering three victims

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Kevan Thakrar, 21, would have killed two more women but his gun ran out of bullets.

Thakrar and his brother Miran, 24, forced Keith Cowell, 52, his son Matthew Cowell, 17, and a friend Tony Dulieu, 33, to kneel before them to be shot.

They carried out the revenge execution in August last year after blaming the Cowells for selling them poor quality cocaine.

To finish off any potential witnesses in the house in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, they resorted to knives.

Matthew's girlfriend Clare Evans, 23, was stabbed six times as she tried to protect her three-year-old daughter who was also at the house.

Miran, 24, was found guilty at St Albans crown court of three counts of murder, one of attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent.

Kevan was also convicted of three counts of murder, two attempted murders, and a firearms offence.

Kevan, of Stevenage, was due to be sentenced today. His brother has already been given three life sentences and ordered to serve a minimum of 42 years. It is likely Kevan will receive a longer sentence because he has a far worse criminal record.

Stuart Trimmer QC, prosecuting, said: "The victims were shot while they were unarmed and defenceless. The evidence is that it was a planned execution.

"The reason for this assault is drug dealing. Disputes in this world are settled by violence."

The other defendants in the case have already been sentenced. Kevan's father Atul Thakrar, 47, also of Stevenage, was found guilty of assisting an offender and was jailed for four years.

Amanda Dansie, 21, of Buntingford, Hertfordshire, was also jailed for four years for assisting an offender.

Yilay Tufensoy, 21, of Enfield, was found guilty of assisting an offender and given a four-year sentence.

The morning after the attack Miran tried to escape to northern Turkey, which has no extradition arrangements with Britain.

Kevan was planning to join him with money and clothes, but was arrested at Heathrow Airport 10 minutes before his plane was due to take off.

In a text message to his brother, Miran had written: "Bring my phone, my jeans and as much money as you can. I will pick you up from the airport."