Carl Moorhouse: Three men jailed for life for murdering Coventry dad in drug turf war
Three men who murdered Coventry dad Carl Moorhouse in a drug 'turf war' have been jailed for life. Mr Moorhouse was murdered in Leamington Spa on May 28, 2020, by members of the T Line drug gang in a revenge attack for an assault carried out by Mr Moorhouse and other members of his gang the previous night.
Reuben Nall, 27, of Rookery Road, Birmingham, Adam Padley, 27, of Mellis Grove, Birmingham and Terry Nall, 31, of Regents Road, Birmingham were found guilty of Mr Moorhouse's murder last month were jailed at Loughborough Magistrates' Court today. They will each serve a minimum of 24 years in prison.
They were also convicted of conspiracy to commit GBH and of a robbery at a safehouse in Willes Road, Leamington Spa, on May 26, 2020, which was operated by Mr Moorhouse's drug gang, the Ceej Line.
Two other people were convicted of manslaughter for the killing of Mr Moorhouse; T Line drug runner Callum Huburn and his girlfriend Emma Bennett. They were sentenced to 14 years and five years in prison respectively. Huburn was also convicted of conspiracy to commit GBH.
The murder of Mr Moorhouse was the culmination of a 'tit-for-tat' drug feud, which escalated because of the May 26 robbery at the Ceej Line's safehouse by members of the T Line. As a result of this, members of the Ceej Line sought revenge, which came in the form of an attack on drug runner Huburn, 30, of Park Road, Birmingham, the following day.
This led to the fatal attack on Mr Moorhouse and a text message read out in court sent to Bennett by Huburn read: "There's a bit of a turf war going on. We're all rolling out together to get it sorted."
Members of the T Line drove to Leamington to wait for Mr Moorhouse in Lower Leam Street, where they parked near a Ford Fiesta which he was using. When they spotted him, they launched their attack.
Outlining the attack, Mr Justice Jeremy Baker said: "Carl Moorhouse tried to seek refuge in the Ford motor vehicle. Adam Padley then smashed the windows with a metal bar and Mr Moorhouse attempted to escape through the passenger door but Reuben Nell was there to meet him. He took a knife off him and used it to inflict the fatal stab wound."
Mr Justice Baker explained that Mr Moorhouse was chased down the street by Padley and Terry Nall and was attacked by Padley with the metal bar. Mr Moorhouse then wandered back to a nearby property where he collapsed.
Giles Cockling QC, representing Reuben Nall, said "there was no intent to kill" and added that the defendant had expressed remorse while giving evidence. During sentencing, Mr Justice Baker said he did not accept this show of remorse, saying: "I reject it was made with any sincerity, as opposed to being an attempt to ingratiate yourself with the jury, which failed."
