When a grandad with no known criminal connections walked into his local pub for a drink no one expected anything untoward would follow.
Edward Byrne, 66, had spent the day with his family before popping into the Yew Tree Pub on Finch Lane, Dovecot, to see if any of his old friends were around for a New Year drink on January 3, 2003.
Mr Byrne, from West Derby, was a retired builder who enjoyed gardening and spending time with his six-month-old grandson. But despite apparently ordinary and unassuming day-to-day life he was about to meet a shocking and violent fate.
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At around 11.20pm, a "muscular" man wearing dark blue tracksuit bottoms, a light top and white baseball cap strode into the pub. In a successful effort to hide his identity, he had a thick, chequered scarf partially covering his face.
According to witnesses, the man walked purposefully towards Mr Byrne, who was standing by the bar, shouted a "personal insult" and shot him in the head from around five feet away.
Mr Byrne dropped to the ground and the gunman disappeared into the night. The pensioner was rushed to Whiston Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
In the following days, Merseyside Police revealed they had no idea of what the motive could be, while Mr Byrne's heartbroken family speculated the killing was a case of mistaken identity.
Speaking to the ECHO a few days after the murder, Detective Superintendent John Kerruish, who led the initial murder investigation for Merseyside Police, said: "It seems he was no harm to anyone. This was a guy who liked working in his garden and loved the company of his six-month-old grandchild.
"He would go to the pub occasionally and never took more than £10 with him. He would stand at the bar and talk to people but never got himself involved in a round. He wasn't somebody who drank excessively and wasn't in pubs all the time. His death really is a mystery."
His daughter-in-law, Jackie Byrne, also told reporters at the time: "Eddy was just a really good family man - he lived for his wife and children and was a well respected member of the community.
"He has lived in the area all his life, we just can't think of any reason, we think it's a case of mistaken identity. I would say if it is a case of mistaken identity there must be someone in the Yew Tree pub that that bullet was meant for.
"They should think about it - someone has died pointlessly and they should come forward with any information they've got."
The only clue appeared to be a black Ford Focus spotted outside the pub, but the lead went cold.
As the months became years and no suspects were identified, Mr Byrne's widow, Brenda, put up £20,000 of her own money as a reward for information leading to a conviction in June, 2004.
She said at the time: "The £20,000 is there for anyone who makes sure the killer is convicted and I just hope it helps."
Describing how the money consisted of from savings, family donations and Mr Byrne's life insurance policy, she said: "I wanted to put the house up for sale and would have used the money as a reward.
"I would not have cared where I lived as long as the murderer was caught. That is the only thing that can give me a little bit of peace."
Speaking of her young grandson, she said: "Eddie really wanted a grandson and was over the moon when he arrived. He was robbed of seeing him grow up, but I will tell the little lad just how fantastic his grandad was."
Speaking at the time the reward was offered, Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Tickle said police believed the actual target is "somebody involved in the underworld drugs trade", although they had yet to trace him.
DCI Tickle said: "Mr Byrne was just a normal man who had gone to the pub to meet his friends for a drink. We believe this was mistaken identity as there is no reason that somebody would have wanted to target him.
"This has totally devastated his family and they were a very close-knit unit who loved each other. "We think people in the area can help with this murder investigation and they should come forward."
Anyone with information should call 101, contact Merseyside Police's social media desk on Twitter @MerPolCC or Facebook ‘Merseyside Police Contact Centre’.
You can also pass information via Crimestoppers anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or via their online form here.
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