BREAKING: Four found guilty in Stephen Maguire murder trial

10th December 2020

Four men have been found guilty of the murder of Stephen Maguire at Liverpool Crown Court.

Patrick Moogan, 35, of Croxteth, Karl Corson, 28, of Melling, Jack Higgins, 22, of Norris Green, and Ryan Smith, 21, of Liverpool were found guilty of murder with two counts of kidnap, robbery and possession of a firearm and ammunition.

The four men denied the charges. The group will be sentenced on Wednesday.

Maguire, 27, was shot twice at his Guildford Road home in March, while his daughter and partner were upstairs.

Mr Maguire was pronounced dead at hospital less than an hour after being shot despite the best efforts of paramedics.

No murder weapon was ever found.

The prosecution told the court that the four accused kidnapped two teenagers to lead them to the address, though this was denied by one of the pair.

The four accused admit being in a car driven to the house of Mr Maguire on the evening in question but all four deny knowing any of the group possessed a weapon.

Maguire’s partner, Megan Haskayne, found Maguire bleeding on the floor downstairs after she had been ushered upstairs by her partner saying “Babe, they’ve got a piece”.

The judge told the defendants they will all receive mandatory life terms.

The Liverpool Echo reports that one of the defendants shouted: “F****** stitch up” as they were led from court.