Gunman who shot teenager ran home in socks and jumpers before texting dad ‘just woke up’

Martin Wilson fired a single bullet from a 9mm Glock pistol, striking Niall Corrigan in the back

The thief who shot the teenager was seen on camera running home in socks and jumpers before texting his dad: “Just woke up”. Martin Wilson, 37, fired one bullet from a 9mm Glock self-loading pistol, hitting 19-year-old Niall Corrigan in the back..

Gunmen Wilson and 26-year-old Connor Smith were found equally guilty of murdering Mr Corrigan, who died at the scene after the shooting at Bud Croft in Stockbridge Village on November 12, 2020. Both men were sentenced to life in prison and will serve a minimum of 32 years.

After sentencing the men Merseyside Police and the Crown Prosecution Service have provided the ECHO with CCTV footage showing Wilson returning home after being fatally shot.. The footage shows Wilson running to his home address on Highfield Road in Houghton around 9:45 p.m. – about three hours and 20 minutes after the shooting.

READ MORE: The killers, caught on camera, traveled to the “killing point” where the teenager was shot deadREAD MORE: Screams of ‘f*** off’ and ‘ta ra’ at murder victim’s family as two men jailed for life

Footage shown to jurors during the six-and-a-half-week trial shows Wilson wearing shorts, a T-shirt and flip-flops, and holding a blue plastic bag. Earlier in the day, Wilson was seen wearing dark pants, a gray long-sleeved top and black trainers with white soles as he shopped for masks and gloves at a nearby store.

After he got home, Wilson left his phone behind when he went shootingsent a text to his father, Tommy Wilson, saying: “You’re fine kid, just woke up.” The prosecution told jurors during the trial that the message was “a clear attempt to provide an alibi.”

Soon, Wilson’s father arrived at his son’s house, then left again a minute later. Wilson then made several calls, including to one of Mr. Corrigan’s closest friends. Wilson was picked up by a taxi later that night before being caught on CCTV at the Shell garage in Liverpool Road in the company of Liam Cohen, which the prosecution said was the “start of an argument” involving Mr Corrigan.

Later, a surveillance camera, shown to the jury but not released to the press, showed Wilson in the garage buying bottles of Kopparberg cider, Corona Lager and a pack of cigarettes.. He returned home around 11:40 p.m. and was arrested the next morning on suspicion of murder.

Earlier that night, Wilson and Smith, of Midway Road, Guyton, had walked to the “kill point” wearing masks and gloves and with their hoods up. Once there, they waited to set a trap for Mr. Corrigan, who was riding in the area on his Sur-Ron electric bike. Footage released by the ECHO shows the gunmen warning each other of Mr Corrigan’s presence before Wilson reached into his pocket and pulled out what the prosecution believe was the murder weapon..

They then exit the camera before taking the picture. Other footage, shown in court but not released to the press, shows the two men hiding behind bushes before emerging, exchanging words with Mr Corrigan and shooting him in the back.

Passing sentence, Judge Goose told the men: “Niall Corrigan was shot by two men. They prepared to kill, receiving a Glock handgun and ammunition, as well as two pairs each of black gloves, hats and masks. They took a secret route in Stockbridge Village, Liverpool, which led them to Bud Croft, where they knew they would find Niall Corrigan.

“There, he was shot in the back when he was riding an electric bike. The bullet passed completely through his body, causing extensive internal injuries that led to his death by the side of the road. The two men then took the electric bike, which was later left in the Hayton area. Martin Wilson, you were arrested the next day, by which time you had disposed of your clothes as well as your mask, hat and gloves. Later, you were released under investigation.”

Wilson later gave a prepared statement to police that he was at a friend’s house miles away from the crime scene, contradicting the message he sent to his father. Smith moved into a safe house overlooking the Mersey with the help of Jamie Coggins, 28, and Spinney in Stockbridge Village before fleeing to Spain. Coggins was sentenced to four years in prison for assisting a criminal.

Mr Justice Goose told the men: “While the background to these offenses is that of criminal offences, whether it be drugs or burglary, the reason for this killing was that Niall Corrigan showed disrespect and that should not go unpunished. In the days leading up to the shooting, there was growing anger between Niall Corrigan and his mother, and between you and your fellow Wilsons.

“This led to the threats the night before, the 11th^thousand November, when a car with four or five men, including you Wilson, pulled up outside Niall Corrigan’s family home. The men were wearing masks and made it clear they were looking for Niall Corrigan. The next day he was shot.”