A gunman who opened fire on a room full of people killing one man and seriously injuring another has been jailed for life.

Julian Washington will serve a minimum of 30 years before he can be considered for release on parole.

Washington, 24, was previously found guilty by a jury of the premeditated murder of father-of-one Stefan Burgess following a Supreme Court trial.

He was also found guilty of attempting to murder a second man, using a firearm to commit an indictable offence and handling ammunition in connection to the 2012 shooting.

This morning at Supreme Court Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves said: “This is another bad case. It is another senseless murder in this jurisdiction.”

The jury had heard during the trial that Mr Burgess, 24, and Devano Bremer were among several friends attending a birthday party in a home on The Glebe Road on January 8, 2012, when a man wearing a dark helmet and clothing opened fire.

The gunman then fled the scene, riding away on a waiting motorcycle.

Mr Bremer suffered a non-fatal gunshot wound to his groin but Mr Burgess was shot twice in the upper body.

He was rushed to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Washington, from Grace Lane, Pembroke, was arrested in connection with the shooting the following day.

The court head that particles associated with gunshot residue (GSR) were subsequently found on several items of his clothing, and he was listed as a likely contributor to DNA found on a spent cartridge at the crime scene.

During today’s sentencing hearing Washington again maintained his innocence.

The court heard he has lodged an appeal against his conviction.