Footballer in gun murder must serve at least 25 years

The 26-year-old, who used to play for Bradford City, thought he had got away with murder after Leon Labastide, 21, was gunned down outside his parents' home in 2004.

Grant had been cleared in August 2007 of the shooting murder of Jahmall Moore.

But justice caught up with him when he was charged with Mr Labastide's murder when new witnesses came forward.

Gareth Downie, 25, and Damian Williams, 32, were also jailed for life and given minimum terms of 25 years – Downie for murdering Mr Labastide and Williams for conspiracy to murder.

As Grant was being sentenced at the Old Bailey, a woman shouted from the public gallery: "It's all fixed" and "You are coming out".

Uproar broke out in the public gallery as the men were led to the cells. Williams lifted a fist defiantly and told his supporters: "Fight".

The Recorder of London, Judge Peter Beaumont, said Mr Labastide's murder had been in revenge for a series of "tit-for-tat" shootings.

He said: "He was executed by shooting."

Mr Labastide's mother, Diane Havill, said in a statement: "Leon was a keen footballer who shared his passion for the game with all who knew him. He loved life.

"His senseless killing by so-called friends who grew up with him has left it hard for me to understand the futility of snatching Leon's future whilst, in the same breath, destroying their own."

She said she had moved her family from the Stonebridge Park area because she could not face seeing the relatives of his killers.

Grant, from Kenton, north London, Williams, of Southwark, south London, and Downie, of Markby Road, Birmingham, looked angry as they were sentenced.

A charge that Grant had committed perjury at his trial for murdering Mr Moore, 22, was allowed to lie on file.