A PAIR of armed thugs who shot a man at a Renfrewshire farm have been jailed for a total of 20 years.
Convicted murderer John Docherty, 47, and 38-year-old Don Templeton, from Johnstone, were found guilty of repeatedly discharging a shotgun at James McGurk at Crosslee Poultry Farm, near Bridge of Weir.
Mr McGurk was shot from behind at around 2.30pm on October 31, 2017, with pellets hitting his right buttock.
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The High Court in Glasgow heard that Docherty, who murdered a pensioner in 1995 and was out on licence, fired the weapon.
He was jailed for 12 years when he appeared in the dock this morning to learn his fate.
Co-accused Templeton, who was the getaway driver, was sentenced to eight years behind bars.
Judge Lord Armstrong told the pair: “This was an unprovoked and concerted attack – a brutally and excessively violent attack with a shotgun.
"The injuries inflicted were life threatening and, without medical intervention, Mr McGurk would have died.”
Defence counsel for both men said they continued to protest their innocence.
Before carrying out the attack, Templeton stopped at a Tesco petrol station in Linwood to buy fuel for his Mercedes estate.
He and his co-accused were caught on CCTV at the filling station and, just minutes later, their car was again seen on camera turning into the farm and then, shortly afterwards, driving away quickly.
In evidence, 42-year-old Mr McGurk, who buys and sells cars, said he did not know who shot him.
At the time, he was working on a car at the farm.
He told prosecutor Paul Nelson: “I can't remember much. It is all a blur to me. I got shot from behind.
“I heard a bang and I was propelled forward.”
The jury was shown dramatic CCTV footage of an injured Mr McGurk staggering to the nearby farmhouse to seek help.
Mr McGurk told the court he did not think Templeton had anything to do with the shooting.
He said: “I personally don't see him doing that to me because the two of us were pals.
"I told the police I didn't know who done it.”
Mr Nelson asked Mr McGurk: “Were you involved in anything that might make someone shoot you?”
He replied: “No.”
Mr McGurk also told the court that Templeton had been angry about tools which were stolen.
Mr Nelson put it to him: “Were you asked by Mr Templeton if you knew anyone that was stealing tools?”
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He replied: “Yes.”
Mr McGurk gave a name that he passed on to Templeton and, when asked why, he added: “Because he is a thief.”
Pathologist Dr Marjorie Turner was asked about the potential danger of firing a shotgun at someone.
She said: “If you hit the head or neck, there is a serious risk someone could die.”
Docherty was jailed for life for murder in 1995 for killing pensioner John Boyd, 69, at an isolated cottage near Patna, in Ayrshire.
He murdered Mr Boyd with a pair of pruning shears and stabbed him in the chest with a screwdriver to get his cash card.
Docherty was out on licence at the time of the shooting and returned to custody in November 5, 2017.
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