The defendants were convicted of the possession of firearms with intent to endanger life. The defendants had arranged the purchase of blank firing handguns which were then converted into live firing weapons. Knowles was the direct manufacturer of live weapons, whilst Hardy and Houston were the organisers of the distribution networks. Hill was a customer who admitted that he was involved in the large scale supply of drugs.
The prosecution alleged that the conspiracy was responsible for the production of at least 36 lethal firearms which were then sold on alongside silencers and converted ammunition – the complete packages were appropriately described as “assassination kits”. The conspiracy had been in existence for at least two years and had distributed lethal weapons to a number of individuals, who were involved in serious crime
The trial lasted four months at Nottingham Crown Court
Michael Duck KC Led Abi Joyce for East Midlands CPS Complex Casework Unit
