Gunman guilty of Danny McCalla murder at Wolverhampton nightclub

Vincent Tony Ashman blasted Danny 'Dannyman' McCalla in the head, chest, shoulder, arm and thigh at the Tropical Harmony club.

Jurors at Birmingham Crown Court today found Ashman guilty of murdering Mr McCalla with a 9mm handgun at the High Street venue in November 2009.

Ashman, wearing a grey jumper and blue jeans, showed no emotion as the jury's verdict was returned.

It emerged during the case that 50-year-old Mr McCalla, a mechanic from Dudley, had hit Ashman with a baton just seconds before he was shot on the dancefloor. There was bad feeling between the pair because the victim believed Ashman had burgled his home six months previously.

During the trial, club owner Michael Chambers told the jury he saw Ashman pull the trigger after Mr McCalla attacked him with the baton.

Tony Ashman leaves Tropical Harmony after the murder of Danny McCalla

However Sir Desmond De Silva QC, for Ashman, claimed Mr Chambers was mistaken in his identification of Ashman and that a gun he saw in the defendant's hand was a mobile phone. Two days after the killing, Ashman left the UK after using his own details to book a flight to Jamaica despite the fact that he was the prime suspect in the murder and that detectives had circulated his details nationally.

The 38-year-old defendant, known as Chopper, only returned to the UK last July when he was extradited to face the murder charge. Police worked with the Jamaican authorities to bring Ashman back. Prosecutor Ms Rachel Brand QC told today's hearing the death of Mr McCalla had caused a "devastating sense of loss" to his family.

Jurors spent one hour and 57 minutes reaching their verdict.

They found Ashman, of no fixed address, not guilty of a separate charge of shooting at former professional cricketer Calver Wright near the Waggon & Horses pub, on Cannock Road, Wolverhampton, in July 2008. Ashman is expected to receive a life sentence of at least 30 years tomorrow.

Members of Mr McCalla's family were in the public gallery for the eight-day trial. Speaking after the verdict, his son Reuben described his father as a "good dad". He added: "He was kind, hard-working, loving and spiritual. He was a friend not only to me but to lots of people in the community that he lived in."

Det Sgt Michael Griffiths, from the Major Investigation Review Team, said: "I'm pleased with today's guilty verdict and that Ashman has been held to account for his actions.

"This has been a complex and lengthy investigation and my thoughts are now with Danny McCalla's family, who can hopefully take some comfort now that justice has been done."