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| Michael Blake shooting: Man guilty of murder is jailed for life | Michael Blake shooting: Man guilty of murder is jailed for life |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man who killed a young father and tried to claim his victim shot himself has been jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years. | |
| Michael Blake, 28, was led away from his home in Westhoughton, Bolton, to the back of a van and shot before being dumped in an alley on 3 May 2016. | |
| Nathan Daniels, 28, of Stockport, was found guilty of murder at Manchester Crown Court. | Nathan Daniels, 28, of Stockport, was found guilty of murder at Manchester Crown Court. |
| Four other men linked to the killing will be sentenced later. | Four other men linked to the killing will be sentenced later. |
| 'Implausible' defence | 'Implausible' defence |
| Nathan Quigley, 31, of Hulme, Manchester, and Joe Wilson, 27, of Stockport, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. | Nathan Quigley, 31, of Hulme, Manchester, and Joe Wilson, 27, of Stockport, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. |
| Brendan Fallon, 36, of Gorton, and John Edwards, 47, of Stockport, admitted assisting an offender. | Brendan Fallon, 36, of Gorton, and John Edwards, 47, of Stockport, admitted assisting an offender. |
| Police initially said there appeared to be "no motive" for the killing, but later arrested the five men. | Police initially said there appeared to be "no motive" for the killing, but later arrested the five men. |
| Mr Blake, who is thought to have died as a result of a dispute over drugs or money, answered the door to his killer before being shot, police said. | Mr Blake, who is thought to have died as a result of a dispute over drugs or money, answered the door to his killer before being shot, police said. |
| A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said evidence from witnesses, CCTV and mobile phone data unravelled the plot. | A spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service said evidence from witnesses, CCTV and mobile phone data unravelled the plot. |
| He said it was "very clear from the evidence" that Nathan Daniels, Nathan Quigley and Joe Wilson "were involved in a joint plan to threaten or harm" Mr Blake. | He said it was "very clear from the evidence" that Nathan Daniels, Nathan Quigley and Joe Wilson "were involved in a joint plan to threaten or harm" Mr Blake. |
| "The evidence we presented at court proved that Nathan Daniels took the gun with him and fired the shots that ultimately killed Mr Blake," he said. | "The evidence we presented at court proved that Nathan Daniels took the gun with him and fired the shots that ultimately killed Mr Blake," he said. |
| "His defence that Mr Blake had the gun and inflicted the wounds on himself during a struggle was simply implausible." | "His defence that Mr Blake had the gun and inflicted the wounds on himself during a struggle was simply implausible." |
| Speaking at the time of his death, Mr Blake's family said he had recently bought a house with his girlfriend, and was "looking forward to settling down for family life". | Speaking at the time of his death, Mr Blake's family said he had recently bought a house with his girlfriend, and was "looking forward to settling down for family life". |
| Greater Manchester Police said he had been known to officers, but "not recently, and certainly not for any major crime". | Greater Manchester Police said he had been known to officers, but "not recently, and certainly not for any major crime". |