LIAM SMITH: A prison row, then 40 calls in just 38 minutes from a cell, sealed the fate of Liam Smith

Aug 25 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD Liam Smith was shot dead outside a prison as part of a gang feud, fuelled by intense rivalry within a tight geographical area.

During the murder trial, details emerged of how Lloyd arranged the exec- ution from his prison cell.

It took just 38 minutes for Lloyd to call on his associates to shoot Mr Smith as he left the prison where he had been visiting an acquaintance. In that short period, more than 40 phone calls had been made by Lloyd, who just minutes earlier had had a public row with Mr Smith in the prison visiting room and had requested to be allowed back to his cell.

Speaking after the trial, Detective Chief Inspector Ian Mulcahey, of Mersey- side Police, said Lloyd, who was on remand for firearm offences, attempt- ed to have the phone destroyed after he made the calls.

DCI Ian Mulcahey said: “From phone evidence, it was clear that he orchest- rated the murder of Liam Smith on the outside.

“He made over 40 calls in a space of 38 minutes to various gang assoc- iates who then caught up with Mr Smith as he left the prison and shot him dead. The community were appalled. This was the same small group of people who were already causing a vast amount of upset to the community.

“They were really having a significant impact on the quality of life of the majority of residents, and the death of Liam Smith just showed violence was escalating to a new level.

“He is dead now simply because of a gang feud.

“If people are determined to participate in this lifestyle, they must know that there are serious consequences for this type of behaviour.

“They will either end up dead or in prison, and there is nothing glamorous about either.”