31/05/2012

Rioters Convicted Of Shooting At Police

Three men who blockaded a main road and shot at police during last summer's Birmingham riots deliberately lured police to the scene, a court heard.

They started a fire at a pub in Aston and blockaded the A34 before firing at officers and a police helicopter, in the early hours of August 10 last year.

No one was injured in the incident, which police claimed was set up to lure officers there.

Renardo Farrell, 20, from Wolverhampton, and Tyrone Laidley, 20, and Nicholas Francis, 26, both from Birmingham, were convicted of riot, reckless arson and possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.

The men had denied the charges during the trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Joyah Campbell, 19, of Hanover Court, Aston, in Birmingham, was cleared of the same charges.

The jury is still deliberating on verdicts for four others.


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