A contract killer has been sentenced to 26 years in prison for the gangland murder of Marc Webley, who was shot dead outside an Edinburgh pub on New Year’s Eve 2023. Grant Hunter, 34, admitted to the High Court in Edinburgh last month that he murdered the 38-year-old Mr Webley and attempted to kill another man during the fatal incident.

The shooting occurred just after 11:30 PM on December 31, 2023, outside the Anchor Inn in Granton, Edinburgh. Mr Webley, who police suspected of involvement in organised crime, had reportedly been warned of threats against his life and was wearing a stab vest at the time of the attack.

Hunter arrived at the crowded pub in a stolen Hyundai SUV and, after being approached by Mr Webley and an associate, removed a balaclava and opened fire. CCTV footage presented in court showed Mr Webley displaying his mobile phone to Hunter before the shooting began, which also injured Stewart Pearson.

Despite attempting to flee after being shot in the back, and despite the immediate efforts of pub staff and patrons to administer CPR, Mr Webley was tragically pronounced dead in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2024 at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

During sentencing at the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lord Mulholland described Hunter as a “paid assassin” whose actions were motivated by financial gain and the “furtherance of serious organised crime.” The judge emphasised the cowardly nature of the attack, stating that Hunter’s actions would “haunt” him for the rest of his life.

Further court proceedings revealed that Hunter’s girlfriend, Emma McVie, 27, pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice by cleaning the interior of the stolen vehicle and laundering clothing after the murder. Co-defendant Gary Robertson, 22, also admitted to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Hunter was apprehended the day after the shooting after police identified him from CCTV footage. Prosecutor Graeme Jessop KC detailed that Hunter had expressed frustration about payment for the killing shortly after the event, anticipating a “substantial amount of money” and even making jokes about Mr Webley’s death.

Lord Mulholland condemned the violence, declaring that “the streets of Edinburgh and Scotland are not war zones.” He labelled Hunter “callous and arrogant” for removing his mask before firing, allowing the victim to see his killer, and for wounding another man who attempted to assist Mr Webley.

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Keywords: Grant Hunter, Marc Webley, Edinburgh gangland murder, New Year's Eve shooting, paid assassin, High Court Edinburgh, Anchor Inn Granton, organised crime