A shooter has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a member of the Gooch Gang a decade after a shooting in Urmston.

Abdul Ahsan shot Andre Marshall several times in a car park close to St Clement's Church before striking him with the weapon.

Ahsan, then 18, now 28, absconded to Pakistan while on bail but he was brought back to the UK this year after extended extradition proceedings ahead of the trial which came to a conclusion on Wednesday (October 23).

Mr Marshall's mother Patricia Ali described the impact on the family, including an eight-year-old son who was unborn at the time of Mr Marshall's death, ahead of the sentencing at Manchester Crown Court.

Abdul Ahsan  (Image: GMP) Ms Ali said: "Andre was loved by his family and he loved his family.

"He was a hugger and a likeable, loveable young man with dreams." 

She added: "To lose a child is devastating but to lose an only child in these circumstances is a double impact. 

"I never gave up on hope and the police never gave up on hope. I commend them for their determination."

 Andre Marshall  (Image: GMP) Prosecutor Andrew Thomas KC said Ahsan was no less mature than the average 18-year-old but, in mitigation, Gillian Jones KC said Ahsan was lacking maturity and under orders at the time.

Ahsan, previously of Upper Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 28 years minus the 1,140 days already in custody in Pakistan and in the UK.

Mr Justice Robert Jay said: "This was a brutal murder against the backdrop of drug dealing and gang rivalries."

Mr Justice Jay added: "You associated with Andre Marshall who was a member of the Gooch Gang although there is no evidence you were a member of the gang as well. Why someone wanted Andre Marshall to be eliminated is unclear."

(Image: Newsquest) In 2016, the year after Mr Marshall's death, Danial Shahid, previously of Carlton Street, Old Trafford, was sentenced to four years for assisting an offender. 

Kadell Rivers, previously of Skelton Road, Stretford, was sentenced to three and a half years for assisting an offender and possession of an offensive weapon.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.