MURDERERS Billy Johnson and Charles Noble sat emotionless in the dock as they were convicted of gunning down Abingdon woman Kerry Reeves.

The drug dealers, who were childhood friends, barely flinched when the jury sealed their fate and the guilty verdicts echoed across the court room.

Loved ones of Miss Reeves sobbed as the jury of seven women and five men delivered the unanimous verdicts shortly before 4pm today, after less than four hours deliberating.

Senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp Mike Lynch said: "It is with regret that neither of the men showed any remorse for taking the life of an innocent woman by shooting her at point blank range on that evening.

"Kerry’s murder has had a huge impact on her family and the community of Abingdon. Although there can be no sense of happiness at today's convictions, I hope there is a sense of justice for Kerry’s mother Nicky and her family.

"The conviction of these men would not have been possible if it was not for all of the witnesses who agreed to come forward from the community to give evidence. I commend them for this, as they have had to re-live the moment that Kerry’s life was tragically taken."

During the trial, jurors heard how the masked men ambushed Miss Reeves on November 3 last year and shot her just below her left eye from a distance of about six to 10 feet with a sawn-off shotgun.

The 26-year-old was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital after the shooting in Thornhill Walk, off Northcourt Road, but died two days later.

Johnson denied he had anything to do with the murder, taking the stand on Monday to tell jurors he would never have gunned down Miss Reeves.

The 20-year-old insisted witnesses who claimed they spotted him with a weapon were lying and said he was selling heroin in Abingdon at the time of the fatal shooting.

Fellow heroin dealer Noble, 21, refused to take the stand to give evidence during the trial and tell jurors his version of events.

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Chief Crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service Adrian Foster said: "Johnson and Noble were known to Kerry, but there had been bad feeling and a number of instances of violence and harassment between them and their respective friends for more than a year.

"Although it is believed that Johnson pulled the trigger, both Johnson and Noble played a significant role in this planned attack, which led to the untimely death of Kerry.

"They both acted jointly, together, and are clearly extremely ruthless, calculated and violent individuals."

Mr Foster added the pair both answered no comment during police interview but were linked to the murder by telephone evidence, internet search history and CCTV.

He continued: "This case represents a tragedy for Kerry’s family and friends who have been devastated by her death.

"The witnesses were utterly unprepared for what they saw, some of them acted courageously on the night in their efforts to save Kerry’s life, and all of them have given evidence in very difficult circumstances.

"The consequences of this incident highlight the significant danger weapons, drugs, alcohol and violence have on lives.

"We know that nothing will bring Kerry back to her family and friends, but we hope that today's convictions bring them at least a small sense that justice has been done."

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Jurors also heard from Craig Pitts, who recalled the moment he turned to see his friend "bleeding to death" moments after she was shot beside him.

He confessed he felt "guilty" he ignored warnings Johnson was armed with a gun before scouring the town in search of him to settle a "feud" on the night of the shooting.

The court heard how Mr Pitts attacked Johnson in 2014 and how Mr Pitts was stabbed in his home by a trio of masked men a week before Miss Reeves was shot.

He confirmed he and Miss Reeves, both carrying baseball bats, were with friend Craig Parslow, and followed Noble to confront him about the stabbing, believing Johnson was involved.

Mr Pitts said he saw Noble near Brampton Close and eventually ended up in Thornhill Walk after following him.

He said he heard "whispering or rustling" when the trio walked down the street's alleyway, quickly followed by an "abrupt" loud bang, and spotted two figures running off.

Mr Pitts recalled Miss Reeves collapsed to the ground, initially thinking she had been struck by a firework before reality set in and he noticed blood pouring from her face.

Curtis Boyce also told jurors Johnson spoke to him about wanting to shoot Miss Reeves in the head with a shotgun a couple of months before the murder.

Johnson, of Ripon Court, Corby, Northamptonshire, and Noble, of Kempton Avenue, Northolt, Ealing, were remanded in custody and are due to appear before the same court for sentencing on Tuesday.