Hitman who murdered gangster in Hogmanay pub shooting jailed for 26 years

A hitman who murdered a gangster outside a pub on Hogmanay has been jailed for 26 years.

Grant Hunter, 34, shot Marc Webley, 38, outside the Anchor Inn in Granton, Edinburgh, shortly after 11.30pm on December 31, 2023.

A court heard how Hunter carried out the hit on Webley on “behalf of others unknown” to law enforcement.

CCTV footage of Hunter parking a stolen Hyundai Tucson car outside the pub was shown in court.

Hunter then got out of the car and pulled down a balaclava he was wearing so Webley could know who he was.

The pair spoke to each other as a police car drove past two minutes into the four-minute clip.

The footage ended with Hunter producing what police believe was a Slovakian-made pistol, which has never been recovered.

Hunter was then seen to shoot a second man at the scene.

Webley, who was wearing a stab-proof vest, was seen to try to run away before he was shot in the back.

He was pronounced dead after being taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Hunter, of Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to a charge of murdering Webley. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted murder.

Judge Lord Mulholland initially told off Hunter for folding his arms while in the dock before he imposed a life sentence upon him.

The judge said: “You fired four shots which showed beyond any doubt that you wanted him dead.

“You shot another man who could have came to his aid which shows further intent.

“It is blatantly sinister that you wanted your victim to see your face which is an aggravating factor.

“In doing so you removed your mask and this was your undoing as the police knew you and people knew you which led to your swift arrest.

“The public are grateful to the police and forensic scientists for bringing you to justice.

“Gangsterism is not acceptable in a civilised society – this is a civilised society.

“The public will not put up with this gangsterism and the courts will not put up with it.

“Anyone going to court for carrying out this type of criminality can expect a lengthy prison sentences.

“As I said to you previously, this is not Chicago of the 1930s. Scotland is a civilised place without tolerance for gangsterism.

“You have left a mother without a son and two boys without a father.

“Your cowardly actions will haunt you for the rest of your life.”

Hunter’s former partner, Emma McVie and another man Gary Robertson pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice in the hours after the gangland hit.

McVie also pleaded guilty to washing the clothes that she and her boyfriend had been wearing on the night of the hit.

Robertson, of Edinburgh, admitted disposing of the handgun used to murder Webley. He also pleaded guilty to providing cash, cocaine, and a change of clothing for Hunter and McVie.

McVie was sentenced to four-and-a-half years while Robertson received six-and-a-half years behind bars.

Hunter laughed, put his thumbs up to the public gallery where friends and family were sat then shouted “result” as he was led into the cells.

The court previously heard how Hunter and McVie, 27, drove from the scene and hid out in various properties in the Edinburgh area.

In the days after the attack, they took cocaine, clothes and money from 22-year-old Robertson.

A witness said he had been in the company of Hunter on January 1 and remembered the hitman making jokes about Webley “not seeing the bells”.

Prosecutor Graeme Jessop KC said: “Grant Hunter also expressed frustration at having to wait to be paid for the shooting.

“He suggested that he had expected to be paid a substantial amount of money for the shooting.”

The court heard how McVie cleaned the car which Hunter drove to go and murder Webley.

At the start of proceedings, Mr Jessop said Webley was “believed to be involved in organised crime in the Edinburgh area.”

He added: “Marc Webley was aware that his life was in danger due to a feud involving him and others and others involved in serious organised crime in Edinburgh.

“He mentioned this to his family, and on the night of the shooting, he was wearing a stab-proof vest.

“Grant Hunter shot Marc Webley on behalf of others who are meantime unknown to the prosecutor.”

The second victim was found to have one wound to his back – he received treatment and made a full recovery.

Tony Lenehan KC, defending, Hunter told the sentence that his client’s plea of guilty “cannot be mitigated.”

The advocate claimed Hunter and Mr Webley did have previous “animosity” between them.

Brian Gilfedder, defending McVie, stated that she was “unaware of Hunter’s intentions that day.”

Mr Gilfedder added that the mum-of one has “shown insight and expressed remorse, regret and empathy to the deceased and his family.”

Iain McSporran KC, stated that his client was involved in an “art and part” role and “is in no doubt he will receive a custodial sentence and deserves to receive one.”