A THURROCK man was among a gang of killers were jailed today for a brutal doorstep murder which left the wrong man dead.

A gang of three were told by an Old Bailey judge the death of 22-year-old John Ward had been a "tragedy".

Martin Valentine, 42, of Viola Close, South Ockendon, and David Taylor, 40, formerly of Hardy's Point, the Hythe, Colchester, but now of no fixed address, will serve 30 years each before they are considered for parole.

A third man Peter Jones, 40, of Danbury Road, Chelmsford, was jailed for 25 years All three showed no emotion as they were led from the dock.

Two other men Vishnu Bhaskaran, 27, of Mill Road, Colchester, and Stephen Walker, 29, of Fernwood Avenue, Holland on Sea, where cleared on the murder charge and an alternative charge of manslaughter.

It took the jury of seven woman and five men nearly three days to reach an unanimous verdict.

Trial judge David Paget QC told the killers: "This was a revenge attack over a comparatively trivial incident of provocation."

The six week trial heard Mr Ward, 22, was not the target of the gang.

His friend Stewart Higgins had upset Taylor's former partner and her teenage son by threatening them.

The trial heard Taylor assembled a gang or "firm" to punish Higgins.

But things went wrong when they arrived at Mr Ward's home in Point Clear Road, St Osyth on March 21, 2006.

Mr Higgins opened the door and seconds later Valentine fired a sawn off shot gun through the door.

John Dodd QC, prosecuting. said: "Despite the grievous injury, Mr Ward was able to turn back into the house before realising he had been shot and finally collapsing.

"He had been shot in the throat by a shotgun cartridge. It was a devasting injury."

Armed police where called to the sene but where unable to enter the house, until the area had been secured.

By the time paramedics were allowed in, Mr Ward was beyond help, Mr Dodd added.

During the trial Higgins, a witness, refused to give evidence and was jailed for six months for contempt of court.

Another man, Martin Brown, 25, admitted a charge of assisting an offender and was jailed for seven months earlier in the case.

Senior investigating officer, Det Supt Phil Tucker, said: "The murder of John Ward was a totally disproportionate act of violence by a group of criminal thugs who were so callous they didn't care who was killed by their actions.

"The motive that night was little more than petty revenge for a minor robbery, and a message from David Taylor that no one should mess with his family.

"The result was the death of an innocent bystander. My heart goes out to Michelle and Gary for the loss of their son. He happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and paid for it with his life."

Gary and Michelle Ward, John's parents, said after the trial: "We are devastated by the loss of our son. He died a hero saving his friend's life. We will never forgive nor forget.

"We thank everyone for their help and support during these devastating and tragic circumstances that we have had to live through. Thank you."

Other members of John's family - Alice, Terry and Mary - and his fiancée Georgina, paid tribute to John with the quote: "There is no greater love hath a man than he who laid down his life for a friend."