THE family of a man who was shot dead have spoken out for the first time.

Today Walthamstow teenager Kieron Lawrence, 19, of Pretoria Avenue, was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years after shooting dead Edward Thompson in Hackney, on September 6, 2009.

Mr Thompson, 29, a painter and decorator, was sitting in a car in stationery traffic at the junction between Amhurst Road and Marcon Place, in Hackney when he was murdered. He was driven to Homerton Hospital by friends where he later died.

Kallum Morris, 19, and Paul Stoby, 19, both homeless, were also given the same sentence.

This afternoon 28 members of Mr Thompson and his widow Natalie's family and friends packed into the public gallery of the Old Bailey to listen to the sentencing of the trio.

Most were wearing t-shirts in tribute of Mr Thompson saying R.I.P. Eddie 16.05.80 - 06.09.09. Mrs Thompson's uncle Chris Demetriou said they wanted to show they were against gun crime.

When the sentencing was over family and friends rushed out to meet Mrs Thompson who came from the main court alone in tears. Family surrounded her hugging and kissing her while she broke down in relief.

Mr Demetriou told the Waltham Forest Guardian: "There's no winners here. All these people's lives are involved in this. These young fellas - if they want to be gangsters they have to face the consequences. Natalie is a young girl and she has to live with what they have done. She has three boys aged one, five and eight that she has to bring up on her own now.

"It has been complete devastation for us since Eddie's murder. Mr Demetriou added: "He was such a lovable fella. He was a lovely guy. He was friendly and family orientated. You think what are these people doing. Our family has been very supportive of Natalie. Some of them came over from Cyprus to be here.

"What these boys have done has caused devastation to their own and their families' lives. They have mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who will have to live with what they have done.

"Somewhere along the line gun crime has got to stop. The sentence today should make other youngsters take heed. I hope it has an effect. Hopefully others tempted to do the same will reflect on it. Because these boys have now got a long time to reflect on what they have done.

"Hopefully no other family has to go through what we have been through. It's horrendous.

"Natalie has been close to a break down a few times. If it wasn't for her father, step-mother, brothers and sisters supporting her she wouldn't have got through it. She would have had a complete breakdown.

"We believe a life sentence should mean life. And we believe in the death sentence. Today isn't a happy ending, but it will bring closure for Natalie and the family. She is a strong girl and she will get through this."