Who was Gary Black? British gangster found dead in HMP Low Moss – here’s all you need to know
The man involved in the murder of a teenager in a school playground was found dead in his cell
A MAN involved in the murder of a teenager in a school playground was found dead in his cell while serving a sentence.
Gary Black was behind bars for a five year stretch for a separate attack.
He is thought to have died from natural causes, but why was the criminal so notorious?
Who was Gary Black?
He was branded one of Britain's most dangerous gangsters after a string of violent crimes.
The 29-year-old was a feared criminal in Lanarkshire's drug trade.
His criminal record went back to December 2001, when he was convicted of a sex assault when he was just 14.
Then on Valentine's Day 2004 he attacked an 18-year-old, Kenneth Baillie.
When that case came to court Black was on bail for already serving 18 months for two violent attacks.
He was also involved in an attack which led to the death of 16-year-old Steven Pettigrew in April 2004.
His drug dealing was said to have made him millions in profit.
When he died on January 15 he was serving a sentence for perverting the course of justice and assault.
How did Gary Black die?
He was found dead in his cell at Low Moss prison in Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow.
The criminal is believed to have died from natural causes - warders and medics were unable to revive Black.
Relatives of the inmate, who was serving a five year sentence, have been informed.
The Scottish Prison Service confirmed his death.
A spokesman said: “Gary Black, 29, a prisoner at HMP Low Moss has died."
What happened when Steven Pettitgrew was killed?
Black’s cousin, Derek Ferguson, was jailed for the murder after stabbing Steven to death at Chapelside Primary School.
Black admitted punching and kicking the teenager during the fatal attack and was jailed.
Steven was among a group of youths in the playground of the school in Airdrie when the gang arrived and attacked him without warning.
Ferguson had won an appeal of his 2005 conviction because the original trial judge failed to tell the jury they could return the lesser verdict of culpable homicide.
But in 2009, he was jailed for life for the murder of Steven.
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