Birmingham Thug Paid Friend £550 to Take Part in Execution of Loved Young Man

A brutal thug paid a friend £550 to take part in the ‘execution’ of a well loved man aged just 20 – after a minor altercation he ‘couldn’t let go.’

Sharn Miles, 20, and Ty Blake, 19, shot their victim James Teer in the face at point-blank range with a shotgun on the evening of August 8 last year.

The killers were set on revenge after a nightclub bust-up involving someone the victim knew – even though Teer had not been involved in the incident himself.

Describing the brutal killing as an ‘execution’ Mr Justice Martin Spencer sentenced both defendants to life with a minimum of 32 years today at Birmingham Crown Court.

Judge Spencer said: “James Teer was a 20-year-old man at the start of his independent adult life.

“He had a big heart and a great sense of humour. He enjoyed life. The grief and anguish of his family are made clear from the personal statements.

“James was going on his first holiday with friends and had started to live a healthy lifestyle. His family and friends are devastated and unable to come to terms with his murder.

“Four days earlier there was an altercation with a group of youths including Mr Teer. You (Miles) could not let it go. You recruited Blake. You (Blake) got £550, that is how cheaply you valued the life of James Teer.

“You duped Malin into assisting you.”

The pair were convicted of murder after West Midlands Police traced them from a bloodied tissue found in their getaway car.

Mr Teer had been playing football in Goosemoor Lane, Erdington, with his teenage friends when he was attacked. He died at the scene.

The judge said “The only available sentence is life imprisonment. I have to set a minimum term. The minimum will be the same for you both.”

Mr Teer’s mother said: “He was just starting to enjoy life as a young man. He was going on his first holiday. He had joined a gym. His family and friends are devastated. I could not believe that James was lying dead in the street.

“Our son was dead murdered and we were unable to help him.”