A jealous killer who shot his love rival five times as he slept has been convicted of manslaughter.
Louis Kelly, 40, killed 33-year-old Mark McCann-Barrett after discovering his friend had been having an affair with his former partner.
Kelly, from St John’s Wood, was found guilty of manslaughter following a trial at the Old Bailey, which concluded today (Friday, November 13).
Suspicion was aroused after Mr McCann-Barrett’s partner found an explicit video of Kelly’s ex-girlfriend on his phone.
Mr McCann-Barrett called Kelly to try to help him reason with his partner, by suggesting the video in his phone had been sent to him by Kelly as a mistake while drunk.
After a heated argument with his partner, Mr McCann-Barrett left their home in Hertfordshire and took a cab to his friend Kelly’s flat in Tottenham, where he spent the night on the sofa bed.
Hours later Kelly shot him multiple times on his legs with a Glock pistol.
Mr McCann-Barrett managed to stumble out of the flat and was discovered unconscious by a neighbour who called the police on the morning of 17 September last year.
Kelly was arrested 10 days after the attack on September 27.
Mr McCann-Barrett, a father-of-three, died from his injuries in hospital nearly a fortnight later on September 30.
Emma Currie, from the CPS, said: “This was a violent act driven by jealousy and resulted in Louis Kelly killing his own friend.
“During the trial Kelly claimed he had shot Mark McCann-Barrett in self-defence. But using the pathologist, a firearms expert and bloodstain analysis, the prosecution was able to prove that Kelly had in fact attacked his victim while he lay sleeping and defenceless.
“We were also able to present evidence that suggested Kelly had planned the attack in the hours before by going to collect a pistol before inviting Mr McCann-Barrett to his home to spend the night.
“This senseless killing has destroyed two families and left four children without their fathers.
“I hope this prosecution goes some way in providing comfort to all those who loved and cared for Mark McCann-Barrett. Our thoughts remain with them at this time.”
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