The family of Michael Anton O'Connor said they were left "feeling sick" after one of their son's nine murderers taunted them in court.
Paula Usherwood used her car to block their son's attempt at escape before he was fatally stabbed by Michael Mingoes who was part of a Manchester hit team. Four of the nine murderers were handed life sentences after they were convicted earlier this month unanimously for Michael's murder at Nottingham Crown Court.
Carla McGuire, of Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows, lived with son Michael McGuire who ran a drugs line from the home address. Prior to the murder, the address was used as a meeting point for some of the defendants, including a 'hit team' sent from Manchester, Nottinghamshire Live reports.
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Joseph Boscombe, 39, of Rostherne Avenue, Manchester, was not in court on Wednesday, June 21, however, he will be sentenced alongside defendants Usherwood, Benjamin Taylor, head of a Manchester organised crime group, and Carla McGuire.
Before the killing was carried out, CCTV footage at the house was turned off, with prosecutors stating Carla McGuire controlled the CCTV from her phone. The family of Michael Anton O'Connor flagged an incident with Usherwood on June 8.
In a statement, they said: "To Paula Usherwood, on June 8, you shouted to the family in the public gallery, 'at least I'm not walking around with a picture of my dead son on my T-shirt, I'm still alive and got my family around me'.
"A heinous act which left our family feeling sick to their stomach at the lack of remorse shown by this defendant," they said. "We cannot fathom how someone could be so flagrantly audacious, atrocious and hateful towards the victim's family," they added.
"At times our family were made to feel like we were on trial, an unwelcome spotlight, rather than the victim's family". To Joseph Boscombe, who was part of the Manchester hit team who ambushed Mr O'Connor, the family addressed their comments to him.
"Joseph Boscombe, on June 12, the jury found him guilty of the murder of our son. He showed no remorse and instead chose to make threats to kill our remaining son in open court.
"Imagine hearing the murderer of one son threaten the other. Words cannot describe the heartache and devastation".
On Wednesday, Michael Mingoes, 21, of Powell Street, Manchester was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 28 years. Leonard Ward, 41, of Marwood Road, Carlton, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 32 years.
Jerone Sheard, 30, of Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 31 years. Michael McGuire, 35, of Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 32 years.
