THE murder of a drugs supplier is an ‘example of misery’ that the drug dealing can inflict on communities, a police chief has said.

Four men have today (Tuesday) been convicted of their part in the killing of Gurinderjit Rai, 41, in Shepherds Farm Lane, Corhampton, on July 12, 2019. He was found the following day with gunshot wounds.

Aston Hannis, 30, and Charlie Statham, 30, were found guilty of murder. Paul White, 27, and Corin Barlow, 41, were convicted of manslaughter.

Read next:

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Chief Inspector Dave Storey said: “Gurinderjit Rai’s death was a carefully planned assassination in which the jury found Hannis and Statham had principal roles.

“Ultimately this is another example of the harm, misery and devastation that drug supply and its associated violence can inflict upon communities.

“Our thoughts remain with Gurinderjit’s friends and family.

“The investigation into Gurinderjit’s death was long and complex and I would like to thank all those involved for working tirelessly to bring these men to justice.”

Anthony Johns, CPS Wessex Senior Crown Prosecutor, said: “The CPS and the police worked closely together to build a strong case from the outset. The scale and complexity of the evidence collected was substantial.  

“The meticulous review of witness evidence, mobile phone data, reports from experts in various fields and other prosecution materials took many months. This careful examination and preparation meant that we were able to present a compelling case to the Court.”