Sick gunman torments victim's family

Jun 8 2008 By Wilma Riley

A GUN killer taunted his victim's family as he was locked up for at least 20 years.

As Ronald Paterson was led away, one of victim Ronald Dougan's family shouted at him: "You're not laughing now."

But sick Paterson, 28, mimed firing a gun and replied: "I'm alive."

Ronald, 25, was shot dead in the street minutes after having an argument with Paterson in a mutual acquaintance's house.

As householder Brian Adair crouched over dying Ronald, Paterson phoned him.

He asked: "Is he dead now?

"If not, tell him I'll put another one in him."

The shooting happened in North Carbrain, Cumbernauld, in April 2006.

Paterson chased Ronald along Torbrex Road and fired one shot, which missed, before shooting him through the heart.

Prosecutor Alan Mackay said the shooting happened as Ronald was walking along the road with a woman friend.

The row with Paterson had followed a disagreement with a friend of the gunman's earlier in the day.

At the High Court in Glasgow last week, judge Lord Turnbull told Paterson: "You have been convicted of a cold blooded killing.

"You shot your victim in broad daylight in a built-up housing estate.

"The depth of your callous conduct is evidenced by the phone call you made to Brian Adair within minutes of the murder."

Paterson, from Cumbernauld, was also found guilty of two firearms offences.

He will serve a minimum of 20 years of his life sentence before being eligible to apply for parole.