The family of a dad-of-two kicked to death in a churchyard simply for his expensive Rolex watch have "gone through the most unimaginable heartache in the last nine months", police said.
Two men and two teenage boys were yesterday convicted of conspiracy to rob and the manslaughter of Steven McMyler who was targeted by a gang determined to rob his £13,000 timepiece.
Organiser Lewis Peake, 30, recruited a so-called "Liverpool Four", some of them just teenagers, who had arrived in Wigan from Kirkby.
The Bolton older man spent part of the day drinking with 34-year-old Mr McMyler as he eyed up his expensive jewellery and tried to offer two schoolboys £100 each to batter him.
When they refused, he approached the Kirkby group, seen on CCTV arriving in Wigan by train, to carry out the assault and the savage attack then took place.
Peake, from Little Lever, later returned to the scene as Mr McMyler lay unconscious and made off with his phone and suitcase.
Prosecutors said the killer gang were "opportunistic predators."
Two boys from Kirkby, aged 14 and 17, who cannot be named, Michael Wilson, 20, of Northfield Close, Kirkby, and Peake, all face long sentences when they are sentenced in June.
Police have now paid tribute to Mr McMyler's family and their "admirable strength" and said "justice had been served."
Detective Chief Inspector Cheryl Chatterton, Senior Investigating Officer, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "Thankfully justice has today been served for Steven and his family who have gone through the most unimaginable heartache in the last nine months - not only losing Steven in horrendous circumstances, but then to relive it all through this trial.
"While today is justice for them, they will still not be able to get complete closure on this case until the final defendant faces trial in November later this year, where they will undoubtedly go through that trauma again.
"Their strength has been admirable and our thoughts remain with them.
"This investigation has been a complex and serious inquiry, and has required painstaking efforts from every one of our detectives involved in helping to get these verdicts today.
"Steven was killed just because he was wearing a valuable watch and these four offenders have now been recognised for the crimes that they have committed.
"They may have gone to Wigan that day to rob Steven's belongings, but they ultimately have robbed him and his loved ones of his life, and for that I am satisfied knowing that they will now be punished."
Mr McMyler, a joiner, from Marsh Green, Wigan, was found with serious injuries in the grounds of Wigan Parish Church on August 6 last year.
He was later pronounced dead by medics.
Due to illness, a fifth defendant - Jordan Short, 20, of Rushey Hey Road, Kirkby - is due to face court at a later date.
He denies manslaughter as well as conspiracy to rob.
When the jury gave its verdict relatives of the defendants wept and cried out in court.
Mr McMyler travelled by train from Wigan to London with the intention of flying out to Thailand, before returning to Wigan last August 6 after changing his mind.
He spent time drinking in Wigan town centre with Peake in the hours leading up to his death.
After the attack, Peake even stopped a passing ambulance to discuss his own injuries after being hit over the head by one of the Merseyside gang with a bottle.
He returned to the home of Cassandra Hill, in Standish, who told the court that he had "confirmed he set out to rob a watch" to her.
Mr McMyler had opted for a "clean break" by travelling to Thailand, but decided against it when he realised he needed to self-isolate for a fortnight because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He returned from London to his home on the afternoon of 6 August and still had his suitcase with him.
The watch has never been recovered.
