The heartbroken mother of Kevin Nunes yesterday told how she was tortured by the “barbaric execution” of her son in an emotional statement read out at Leicester Crown Court.

See also: 135 years for killer gang

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Hairdresser Pamela Bailey, aged 42, said while the 20-year-old was not an “angel”, he was a loving, caring son. “Kevin’s death has left me and my family feeling very empty and for five years we did not really know what had happened to him,” she said. “Putting all of his faults to one side, he was a loving son and also cared dearly for his five brothers whose lives are also affected.

“I could not stop thinking of what Kevin must have gone through in the final moments of his life – the torture and the fear that he must have experienced.

“I have also had the ordeal of having to explain to his younger brothers what had taken place and even to this day I don’t think they understand.”

Ms Bailey, of London, spoke as the five men who organised and carried out the killing were told they will spend a combined total of 135 years behind bars.

Owen Crooks betrayed his trusted friend Nunes by driving him to his killers.

Adam Joof and Antonio Christie each shot the victim with hand guns before he was pistol-whipped while dying.

Levi Walker escorted the gunmen to the farm access road in Pattingham, near The Fox at Shipley pub, where the murder took place, and looked on as Nunes was shot five times.

Michael Osbourne organised the killing but was not there when it took place.

Ms Bailey added: “At the time of Kevin’s death his girlfriend was carrying his child, and even now, every time I look at his four-year-old son, my heart bleeds for his loss which is the greatest of all, never to know his own father. I know that I can’t paint Kevin as an angel and I would never try to, but no-one deserves to die like this or a family to suffer like we have.” Trial judge Mr Justice Treacy said the men were each serious criminals involved in a gang life of violence, robbery, drug dealing and guns.

“I regard you all as ruthless, cunning, callous and without remorse,” he said.

By Mike Woods