SOMERSET NEWS: Charlie Broadway sentenced to at least 34 years in prison for murder of Wilfred Isaacs

A MAN has been sentenced to a minimum of 34 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering one man and attempting to murder another during a shooting incident at a caravan site in Somerset.

Following a long and complex investigation, Charlie Broadway, 24, was convicted of the murder of 50-year-old Wilfred Isaacs Sr and the attempted murder of his son Wilfred Isaacs Jr, who was 22 at the time.

PHOTO - TOP: Murderer Charlie Broadway and the murder weapon, a  sawn-off shotgun, which was found in a toilet.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Murdered Wilfred Isaacs.

Charlie Broadway was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on Wednesday (December 7, 2016) for these offences, as well as charges of unlawful wounding - for an assault on Wilfred Senior earlier the same day – and ABH for a prior assault on Wilfred Junior.

Charlie’s brothers John Broadway, 38 and William Broadway, 18, were sentenced to 15-years (plus an extended four years on licence) and 12 years respectively after being found guilty of the manslaughter of Wilfred Senior.

The shootings happened on Thursday, May 5, at the Chubbards Cross Caravan Site in Ilton, near Ilminster, where they all lived.

PHOTO - RIGHT: John Broadway.

Three others were also convicted of offences following a trial: Bonnie Wilson, 30, was sentenced to 18-months' imprisonment, suspended for two years, after being found guilty of assisting an offender, while Joseph Finney, 23 and Riley Joe Jones, 21, were jointly convicted with Charlie of unlawful wounding and ABH. They were both sentenced to 15-months' imprisonment, suspended for two years.

Senior Investigating Officer Det Insp Lorna Dallimore, of the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: “The motive for these shootings lies in a dispute between two families living on the site.

“Tragically, what started out as a verbal disagreement between members of the two families resulted in the horrific shooting of two men.

“Our investigation showed Charlie Broadway used a sawn-off shotgun to inflict fatal injuries on Wilfred Senior and cause serious injuries to his son. His two brothers John and William both played a pivotal role in the incident, resulting in their convictions for Wilfred Senior’s manslaughter.

“It was a senseless act which has ultimately destroyed the lives of two families.”

Following the shootings, John and Charlie Broadway fled the scene and a nationwide manhunt was launched.

PHOTO - RIGHT: William Broadway.

Charlie handed himself in at Bridgwater Custody Centre the following day, while extensive police enquiries resulted in the arrest of John in Lichfield, Staffordshire, on Saturday, May 7, 2016.

DI Lorna Dallimore added: “This was an extensive and fast-moving inquiry which involved a wide range of policing resources including the Major Crime Investigation Team, Investigations, Local Policing, Catch and Disrupt teams, Crime Scene Investigators/Managers, Intelligence staff and Communications personnel.

“A large number of partner agencies and professionals have also been involved, especially in the run-up to the trial, including medical, forensic and ballistic experts.

“During our investigation, several illegally held shotguns, component parts of other firearms and ammunition were recovered from the caravan site, along with the murder weapon, which was found discarded in a disused toilet block on the site.

“In the region of 1,260 exhibits were seized, including bloodstained clothing found at the site, and a thorough forensic examination was conducted of the whole site, which took almost three weeks.

“We carried out a meticulous review of the events leading up to the shootings, which uncovered evidence of a serious assault on Wilfred Senior earlier in the day, in which he was punched, kicked and struck with a metal bar.

“My thoughts are with the family and close friends of Wilfred Senior and Wilfred Junior, who’ve had to come to terms with the life-changing impact of this appalling crime. I hope these successful convictions will help them move forward with their lives.

“I’d also like to thank the brave witnesses who gave evidence in this trial, all the officers and staff who worked on this inquiry and our partner agencies for their crucial input and support.”

PHOTO - ABOVE: The murder scene at Chubbards Cross Caravan Site in Ilton, near Ilminster,

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