Gary Lloyd Nelson

Case information

• Name: Gary Lloyd Nelson
• Birth year: 1969
• Nationality: British
• Residence/location mentioned: Woolwich, south-east London
• Convicted murders: William Danso and Police Constable Patrick Dunne in Clapham in October 1993

Timeline

• October 20, 1993 — Gary Nelson killed William Danso and Police Constable Patrick Dunne in Clapham.
• Five weeks after October 20, 1993 — Nelson was originally charged with the murders; the case was dropped because of insufficient evidence.
• 1994 — Nelson was jailed for eight years for an unrelated shooting.
• Ten days after starting his sentence at Belmarsh high security jail — Nelson attacked prison officers and had six months added to his term.
• 1999 — Nelson was released.
• June 1994 — The murder weapon was discovered in Wandsworth cemetery, south London, wrapped in a plastic bag with Nelson's mother's fingerprint on it.
• February 2003 — After a month-long surveillance operation, Nelson was followed to the United States, where he bought a laser device for a 9mm Browning semi-automatic.
• January 2004 — Nelson was jailed for life for possessing weapons and ammunition for a second weapon.
• November 1993 — Three men, including Nelson, were charged with the murders; the cases were ended due to insufficient evidence.
• January 2001 — The case was reopened following pressure from the victims’ families; previous evidence was re-examined.
• November 2001 — A new appeal on BBC Crimewatch was made.
• October 2004 — Nelson was arrested for the second time in relation to the murder.
• February 17, 2006 — Woolwich Crown Court convicted Nelson of the murders; the trial judge recommended a minimum of 35 years before parole.
• February 22, 2006 — Sentence was issued: two life terms running concurrently with a recommendation he serve a minimum of 35 years.

Background

Gary Lloyd Nelson, born in 1969, was nicknamed Tyson because of his resemblance to boxer Mike Tyson.

Woolwich Crown Court heard Nelson targeted William Danso for “disrespecting” him.

The offence

Killing of William Danso (Brixton Academy)

On October 20, 1993, William Danso, aged 31, was in Cato Road, Clapham. He was watching a football match with a friend and then answered the front door. He was shot six times just after 9pm.

The trial described that three black men with a baseball bat and two handguns fired a total of 12 shots.

William Danso had refused Nelson entry to the nightclub. On the day he died, he was working as a part-time security guard at a shop when he broke up a fight involving Nelson.

Jurors were also told that Nelson and two unidentified accomplices laughed as they fired a hail of bullets at Danso in his hallway in Cato Road, Clapham on 20 October 1993.

A post-mortem found William Danso died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen which severed arteries supplying the intestine. Other officers found Danso still alive in his doorway. He could only say he had trouble breathing before treatment from ambulance officers. He died at 10.05 pm.

Killing of Police Constable Patrick Dunne (Metropolitan Police Service)

Police Constable Patrick Dunne, a 44-year-old police officer, went to investigate after hearing gunshots from a nearby home in connection with a minor domestic dispute at Mario Ceria’s home. Dunne was an unarmed community officer known locally as “cycling cop”.

The trial described that Dunne, wearing a high-visibility jacket, reported the gunshots over his radio and then went outside to investigate with Mr Ceria and friend Henry Woods.

As the unarmed policeman stepped into the street, he was hit by a single shot to the chest, killing him instantly.

A post-mortem found Dunne died of a gunshot wound to the chest, which damaged his lungs and aorta.

Investigation

The case was originally charged five weeks after the murders were committed, but it was dropped because of insufficient evidence.

A prisoner who could not be named for safety reasons and who was in Wormwood Scrubs with Nelson in 1994 told officers he had heard a confession. Nelson was quoted as saying:

“I shot the copper... The one on the bike.”

Police subsequently carried out a month-long surveillance operation in February 2003, followed by travel to the United States, where Nelson bought a laser device for a 9mm Browning semi-automatic.

Police then swooped on Nelson’s flat in London and seized the weapon and the device, described as being designed to make the gun a more efficient killing machine.

Forensic evidence linked Nelson to guns used in the murders.

The murder weapon was discovered in June 1994 in Wandsworth cemetery, south London, wrapped in a plastic bag with Nelson's mother’s fingerprint on it.

The case was reopened in January 2001 following pressure from the victims’ families, and previous evidence was re-examined.

A new appeal on BBC Crimewatch was made in November 2001.

Arrest and later proceedings

Nelson was originally charged five weeks after the murders took place; the case was dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Three men, including Nelson, were charged with the murders in November 1993, but the cases were ended due to insufficient evidence.

Nelson was arrested for the second time in relation to the murder in October 2004.

Trial

Court

Nelson was tried at Woolwich Crown Court.

Verdict and judicial remarks

On February 17, 2006, Nelson was convicted of murdering William Danso and Police Constable Patrick Dunne.

Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, head of the Specialist Crime Directorate, said:

“Londoners can be reassured by this verdict. It demonstrates the Met will always pursue those who commit murder regardless of the time that has past.”

Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said:

“This has been a long time in coming, but I hope the verdict brings some sort of closure and peace of mind to the families of Patrick Dunne and William Danso. “The conviction of Gary Nelson reflects the determination and dedication of the many officers who worked hard on this enquiry under Det Chief Supt Tony Crofts before his retirement and Det Ch Insp Steve Richardson. I congratulate them for a job well done and I hope the result serves as a reminder that the passing of years does not diminish the Met’s determination to bring killers to justice.”

Det Chief Insp Steve Richardson, from the SCD1 Homicide South team, said:

“It has taken a great deal of work both by my team and the original inquiry team to arrive at this point. “Our work is not yet complete and we will continue to investigate this case to bring the remaining perpetrators to justice. They must expect that one day there will be a knock on the door and they too will face justice.”

Det Ch Insp Richardson also said:

“The murders of William Danso and Patrick Dunne were cold-blooded executions carried out by extremely dangerous men for virtually no reason. “Five children have had to grow up without their father because arrogant men felt he had not shown them enough respect. “Clapham lost a dedicated community officer and PC Dunne’s family lost a son and brother because courageously he went to investigate on hearing gunfire. I am pleased that one of those murderers has been brought to justice.”

The judge Mr Justice Wilkie said:

“Each of them was unarmed and shot to death, for no reason other than they were doing their jobs. “[Nelson's] utter disregard for any civilised behaviour is reflected in the fact that they were so pleased by what they had done they were heard by a number of witnesses laughing. “These killings were as callous as they were brutal and senseless.”

Nelson gave no evidence during the five-week trial, and he was not in court to hear the jury return an unanimous verdict, which the judge attributed to “moral cowardice”.

Evidence and motive described at trial

Woolwich Crown Court heard Nelson targeted Danso for “disrespecting” him.

The trial heard that Nelson was a man with an “extraordinary short fuse” who murdered Mr Danso “out of wickedness and complete madness”.

The trial also stated that there was no way he could have failed to realise Pc Dunne was a policeman, as he was in full uniform and wearing a yellow reflective top.

Sentencing

Upon being found guilty, Nelson was jailed for life.

The judge recommended Nelson should spend at least 35 years in prison before parole could even be considered.

The sentence was two life terms running concurrently with a recommendation he serve a minimum of 35 years.

Appeals

The case reopened in January 2001 following pressure from the victims’ families, and previous evidence was re-examined.

Outcome

Nelson was convicted of murdering William Danso and Police Constable Patrick Dunne in Clapham in October 1993, and he received two concurrent life terms with a recommendation of a minimum of 35 years.

Other details

Earlier unrelated offence and imprisonment

In 1994, Nelson was jailed for eight years for an unrelated shooting after he lost his temper when a van driver tried to overtake him on a road in south London.

The road rage incident degenerated, and Nelson got out of his car and fired five times at the van, hitting the bonnet and radiator.

Ten days after starting his sentence at Belmarsh high security jail in south-east London, he attacked prison officers and had six months added to his term.

He was released in 1999.

Additional weapons offence in prison

While in prison, he was again charged with the Clapham murders.

In January 2004, he was jailed for life for possessing weapons and ammunition for a second weapon.

Statements and reactions

Pc Dunne’s brother, Steve, a former pastor, said:

“In all that time we never gave up hope - and we never stopped forgiving. “Forgiveness is the other side of justice's coin.”

Mr Danso’s widow Deborah and his sister Gifty burst into tears as the jury convicted Nelson.