Terry Morgan: No breakthrough 20 years after 'assassination' of pensioner

[dutchman]

Mr Morgan was gunned down as he was getting out of his car in Ennderdale, Rugby



Today marks 20 years since pensioner Terry Morgan was killed in a rumoured assassination by drug dealers out for revenge. The 69-year-old was gunned down outside his home on the Brownsover estate, Rugby, on April 24 2002.

Neighbours believed he may have been killed by drug dealers who he had tipped police off about and had recently been released from custody. Mr Morgan was shot as he returned to his Ennerdale home from picking his wife, Shirley, up from work.

The gunman fired one blast into his chest as the father-of-five was getting out of his car. Mrs Morgan heard the bang and turned to see her husband slumped in the driveway.

Two people were arrested in connection with the killing but were released. Nobody has ever been charged in relation to the shooting of Mr Morgan.

The gunman was described as "largely built" and escaped in a green getaway car which was parked nearby. Warwickshire Police drafted in 40 officers to investigate the suspected murder but no breakthrough has been made.

Speaking at the time, neighbour John Hogan, 39, said: "This is so very, very sad. Terry was such a lovely guy, a concerned citizen who wanted to clean up his community and he was assassinated on his front lawn for his efforts.

"The feeling here is that drug dealers were responsible. But if police knew drug dealers that Terry had told them about were out on the streets again, they should have protected him - or at least warned him to watch his step.

"The murderers obviously knew Terry's movements and could have followed him. These dealers are trying to send a message to the rest of the neighbourhood that if you inform on them they will kill you. "People are living in fear round here."

One frightened neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "He wasn't looking for trouble. But he did have strong views on things like drugs - just like everybody else. He was trying to clean up the area and do something for the community."

A Warwickshire Police spokeswoman said: "Our thoughts are with Terry’s family. The incident was subject to a large-scale police investigation at the time. If new information comes to light, it will be investigated as part of an ongoing review process."

[dutchman]

Extremely unusual for drug dealers to carry out a hit on an informant unless they had some previous connection with the criminal world.