Man responsible of homicide after Ring doorbell captured ‘f****** fool’s lifeless’ comment

Ryan Walsh-Westhead has been found guilty of the murder of Rikki Berry, known as ‘Nuggy,’ who was shot three times outside his girlfriend’s house in Kirkby on July 17, 2024

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A man who was caught on doorbell camera announcing “the f****** idiot’s dead” has been convicted of murder. Rikki Berry, nicknamed “Nuggy”, died aged 36 after being blasted three times by a masked gunman on an electric bike in Quarryside Drive, Kirkby on July 17, 2024.

Ryan Walsh-Westhead has faced trial at Liverpool Crown Court charged with his killing over the last fortnight. The 25-year-old, from Farrier Road in Kirkby, was among three passengers in a black Seat Ateca Cupra that travelled “in convoy” with the e-bike during the fatal shooting.

Three other men, Michael Smith, Adam Williams and Walsh-Westhead’s uncle Connor Walsh, were already convicted of Mr Berry’s murder following proceedings at the same court last year. With Smith acting as the shooter, the remaining two defendants were reportedly in the vehicle to “oversee the shooting”.

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Walsh-Westhead was likewise found guilty of Rikki’s murder, plus possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, by a jury of seven men and five women this morning, Friday. The unanimous decision was reached after three hours and 54 minutes of deliberations.

Emotions ran high as roughly a dozen of Rikki’s relatives in the public gallery were visibly moved to tears, whilst Walsh-Westhead remained expressionless upon hearing the guilty verdict, reports the Liverpool Echo.

The Honorary Recorder of Liverpool Judge Andrew Menary KC, who oversaw the proceedings, is set to deliver sentencing later today.

Prosecutor David McLachlan KC had previously informed the jury during last week’s opening statements: “On Wednesday, the 17th July 2024, at 6.33pm, CCTV from Quarryside Drive, Kirkby, captured a black Seat Ateca Cupra car travelling along the road. The CCTV also captured an electric bike which was travelling in the same direction as, and in convoy with, the black Seat Ateca Cupra, but the electric bike was being ridden along the pavement.

“As the black Seat Ateca Cupra approached the front of Quarryside Drive it slowed down to a stop. It is the prosecution’s case that this defendant, Ryan Walsh-Westhead, and two other men, Adam Williams and Connor Walsh, were all in that vehicle as it came to a stop outside Quarryside Drive.

“At the same time, the rider of the electric bike, Michael Smith, who was wearing a balaclava and gloves, also slowed down almost to a stop. The rider then fired four shots towards the door of Quarryside Drive. The target of the shooting was Rikki Berry who was also known as Nuggy. He was in the front garden of Quarryside Drive at the time.

“It is the prosecution’s case that all four men were involved in the shooting of Rikki Berry. The shooter, Michael Smith, who was on the electric bike and fired the shots, and the three men who were in the black Seat Ateca Cupra, which was travelling in convoy with the bike, Adam Williams, Connor Walsh and this defendant, Ryan Walsh-Westhead, all of whom were there to oversee the shooting.”

Ring doorbell footage recorded at Walsh-Westhead’s residence just a minute after the alleged shooting reportedly showed him and Walsh entering the property, purportedly uttering “the f****** idiot’s dead”. His uncle was then overheard following him inside asking: “Did you get him? Did you get Nuggy?”.

On 6 August 2024, police visited the property and observed CCTV cameras installed. However, upon their return the next day, they discovered that the Ring doorbell had mysteriously vanished, leaving behind only three conspicuous holes where it once was mounted.

However, the video was eventually retrieved from a mobile phone belonging to Walsh-Westhead’s mum, Kellie Walsh, using specialist software. Additional clips were also reported to have shown him driving the vehicle implicated in the murder earlier that same day.

Walsh-Westhead testified this week and, under cross-examination by his counsel Richard Littler KC, stated that he and Mr Berry were on “good terms”, having known him “all his life” and shared a “common interest” in motocross bikes. He further described the deceased as being “best mates” with another of his uncles and refuted any claims of having “bad blood” with him.

Dressed in a navy blue suit jacket and matching tie over a white shirt, and sporting short dark hair, Walsh-Westhead claimed he had been at his mum’s house on Farrier Road at the time of the shooting. He instead said he was approached by the Seat as he left to walk to his grandad’s home on nearby Simonswood Lane.

He recounted: “I was in my house doing my normal, day to day thing. I came down the path. A black car come in the street, pulled over. Someone’s got out the car.”

Walsh-Westhead identified the person exiting the rear driver’s side of the vehicle as Walsh. He then remembered: “He’s come round the back side of the boot and said to me, ‘they’ve just shot Nuggy’.”

Describing himself as “scared” at this point, Walsh-Westhead recounted that he and Walsh then ambled back towards his front door. However, he clarified to the court that instead of saying “the f****** idiot’s dead”, he had actually stated: “The f****** idiots are dead.”

When probed about who he was referring to, Walsh-Westhead explained: “The people who have just done it. Because he told me they’d just shot Nuggy.”

When Mr Litter enquired about Walsh’s state at this point, Walsh-Westhead responded: “Under the influence. He was in an erratic state. He just couldn’t keep still. He was just everywhere. He was slurring words.”

Walsh reportedly stayed at the address for “just a couple of minutes”, with Walsh-Westhead adding: “He just wanted to go back home to his house. He kept saying, ‘what am I gonna do?’. I was asking what had happened. He didn’t say.”

Smith and Williams were each previously slapped with life sentences with a minimum of 31 years behind bars. Meanwhile, Walsh was informed that he must serve at least 30 years in prison before he could be considered for release.