Gary Nelson, born in 1969, is a British man and convicted murderer.

On February 17, 2006 Nelson, of Woolwich, south-east London, was convicted of murdering William Danso, a 31-year-old doorman and security guard, and Patrick Dunne, a 44-year-old police officer, in Clapham in October 1993.

Danso, a doorman at the Brixton Academy, had refused Nelson entry to the nightclub and, 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.

Woolwich Crown Court heard Nelson targeted Danso for "disrespecting" him. He 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.

Pc Dunne had been investigating a minor domestic dispute, heard gunshots from Danso’s house and went to investigate. As the unarmed policeman stepped into the street he was hit by a single shot to the chest, killing him instantly.

Nelson was originally charged with the murders five weeks after they took place, but the case was dropped because of insufficient evidence.

In 1994 Nelson, nicknamed Tyson because of his resemblance to boxer Mike Tyson, was jailed for eight years for an unrelated shooting.

He had 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.

After a month-long surveillance operation, conducted in February 2003, Nelson was followed to the United States, where he bought a laser device for a 9mm Browning semi-automatic. Police subsequently swooped on his flat in London, seizing the weapon and the device, described as being designed to make the gun a more efficient killing machine.

In January 2004 he was jailed for life for possessing weapons and ammunition for a second weapon. While in prison, he was again charged with the Clapham murders. Among the evidence against him was the discovery of the murder weapon in Wandsworth cemetery, south London, in June 1994, wrapped in a plastic bag with Nelson's mother's fingerprint on it.

During the trial he was brought to court every day from nearby Belmarsh prison.

Upon being found guilty, Nelson was jailed for life. He will serve a minimum of 35 years.

The Gary Nelson murders occurred on October 20, 1993, when Gary Nelson (b. 1969) of Woolwich, south-east London, killed Police Constable Patrick Dunne and William Danso in Clapham, England.

Victims

Patrick Dunne, born in 1949, was a British constable with the Metropolitan Police Service. Prior to his police career, Dunne had taught maths for fifteen years at the Deane School in Bolton. Danso was a doorman at the Brixton Academy music venue.

Murders

Danso, a doorman at the Brixton Academy, had refused Nelson entry to the nightclub and, 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.

Woolwich Crown Court heard Nelson targeted Danso for "disrespecting" him. He 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.

PC Dunne had been investigating a minor domestic dispute, heard gunshots from Danso’s house and went to investigate. As the unarmed police officer stepped into the street he was hit by a single shot to the chest, killing him instantly.

Investigation, prosecution, and conviction

Nelson was originally charged with the murders five weeks after they took place, but the case was dropped because of insufficient evidence.

In 1994 Nelson, nicknamed Tyson because of his resemblance to boxer Mike Tyson, was jailed for eight years for an unrelated shooting.

He had 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.

After a month-long surveillance operation, conducted in February 2003, Nelson was followed to the United States, where he bought a laser device for a 9mm Browning semi-automatic. Police subsequently swooped on his flat in London, seizing the weapon and the device, described as being designed to make the gun a more efficient killing machine.

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

While in prison, he was again charged with the Clapham murders. Among the evidence against him was the discovery of the murder weapon in Wandsworth cemetery, south London, in June 1994, wrapped in a plastic bag with Nelson's mother's fingerprint on it. On February 17, 2006 Nelson was convicted of the 1993 murders. The trial judge recommended that Nelson should spend at least 35 years in prison before parole can even be considered, a ruling which would keep him behind bars until at least 2038 and the age of 69.

Wikipedia.org

Man convicted of October 1993 murder of PC in Clapham

Met vows to catch gang members

The Job

February 24, 2006

The Met has vowed to continue its search for the remaining gang members who killed PC Patrick Dunne in Clapham more than a decade ago.

It follows the conviction last week of one of the three men involved in the shooting of PC Dunne and William Danso in October 1993.

Guilty

Gary Lloyd Nelson, 36, was found guilty of two counts of murder and was given two life terms running concurrently with a recommendation he serve a minimum of 35 years.

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.”

The case was reopened in January 2001 following pressure from the victims’ families, and previous evidence re-examined. A new appeal on BBC Crimewatch was made in November 2001. Forensic evidence linked Nelson to guns used in the murders.

Then a prisoner, who cannot 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.” He was arrested for the second time in relation to the murder in October 2004.

Det Ch Insp Richardson 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.”

On Wednesday October 20, 1993, Mr Danso, 31, was watching a football match with a friend in Cato Road, Clapham. Just after 9pm he answered the front door and was shot six times. Three black men with a baseball bat and two handguns fired a total of 12 shots.

PC Dunne, 45, a community officer known locally as ‘cycling cop’, was attending a minor domestic disturbance at the nearby home of Mario Ceria when he heard the gunfire.

Wearing a high-visibility jacket, PC Dunne reported the gunshots over his radio and went outside to investigate with Mr Ceria and friend Henry Woods. When a gun was pointed at the group, PC Dunne tried to get Mr Ceria and Mr Woods inside before he was shot.

The three men reportedly ran away from the scene firing the shots into the air as if in triumph.

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

Other officers found Mr 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 of a gunshot wound to the abdomen which severed arteries supplying the intestine.

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

Verdict

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.”

Commissoner 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.”

Pc killer jailed for 1993 murders

BBC News

Friday, 17 February 2006

Meanwhile beat officer Pc Dunne, 44, who had been investigating a minor domestic dispute, heard gunshots from the house opposite and went to investigate.

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

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

Jurors were also told 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.

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, nor was he in court to hear the jury return an unanimous verdict, which the judge attributed to "moral cowardice".

Nelson was charged with the murders just five weeks after they took place, but the case was dropped because of insufficient evidence.

But he was jailed soon after for pulling a gun on a van driver who overtook him, a month before the murders.

He was released in 1999, but jailed for life in 2004 for weapons offences. While in prison last year, he was again charged with the Clapham murders.

Referring to the length of time before any conviction, 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.

Gary Lloyd Nelson was nicknamed Tyson due to a likeness to boxer Mike Tyson.

The victims

William Danso was killed for 'failing to show respect'.
Mr Danso was shot several times in his own home.

Unarmed Pc Dunne was shot in the chest as he went to investigate the sound
of gunshots at Mr Danso's home.