Notorious killer Michael O'Brien - whose murder in cold blood led to a devastating chain of events - has had his case referred to the Parole Board. O'Brien's 18-year tariff expires this year - but his case has not been put through in its first stages on paper yet.
The Parole Board told Nottinghamshire Live, at that first stage, a case can be concluded or directed to an oral hearing, and it can take a while to work through the system. If O'Brien were given Parole, it would be his first taste of freedom in nearly two decades.
O'Brien and Gary Salmon were convicted separately for the murder of 22-year-old shopfitter Marvyn Bradshaw. Aged 23 at the time, O'Brien, then from Wendover Drive in Aspley, was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to life in prison, with the recommendation that he serve a minimum of 24 years, later reduced to 18 years.
READ MORE: Colin Gunn interview tapes: His denials, how he was on holiday, and 'grieving'
Three years later, Salmon, 34, would be given life with a minimum 18-year-tariff. On the night of the killing, August 30, 2003, O’Brien and his friend Salmon went to the Sporting Chance pub, Bulwell, to pick someone up from a lock-in, but were refused entry.
O'Brien had argued with Jamie Gunn and another man, and one had hit O’Brien above the eye with an ashtray. The pair went to Salmon's home in Bulwell and changed into dark clothing, gloves and balaclavas.
Salmon produced a single-barreled shotgun wrapped in a coat. O’Brien took it, went back to the pub, and shot Marvyn. The fatal shot was meant for Jamie after the argument earlier that night. Marvyn was driving best friend Jamie and friends away from the pub after a lock-in when Marvyn was shot in the back of his head and died later that day.
But the story did not end there. Jamie had witnessed his best friend being shot in front of him in the car. Jamie's family said at the time the teenager never recovered from the trauma and pressed the self-destruct button. The 19-year-old saw O'Brien in court before he was jailed for Marvyn's murder in July 2004.
And, tragically, weeks later, on August 2, 2004, Jamie contracted pneumonia and died. Crime boss Colin Gunn, the uncle of Jamie, decided on the ultimate revenge to get to O'Brien.
With his associates, he tracked O'Brien's mum, Joan Strirland and her husband, John, who was O'Brien's step-dad, originally from Carlton, to their bungalow in Trusthorpe. On August 8, the innocent couple were ruthlessly executed by two gunmen, wearing blue boiler suits. They have never been traced.
Mobile phone evidence put Gunn and his associates, Michael McNee and John Russell, near the Stirlands' home in the days before the murders. All three were convicted of conspiring to murder them. Police had said support for the Bestwood cartel began to diminish after these killings.
READ NEXT:
- The Stirland killings: How a community will never forget the double tragedy
- Former undercover cop opens up on attempt to infiltrate Colin Gunn's empire
- David Gunn on the Stirland killings which jailed brother Colin for 35 years
- When Nottinghamshire's most notorious criminals are due for release from prison
- The killing which led to downfall of an empire...
