Dacosta Daniel, 28, of Servia Gardens, Gipton, Leeds, Errol Witter, 26, of Blenheim View, Woodhouse, Leeds, and Robert Cameron, 27, of Richmond Way, Garforth were also found guilty of conspiracy to rob car dealer Edward 'Teddy' Simpson of £300,000 and a stash of drugs after a two month trial.

Mr Simpson, 56, was killed at his home in Sticker Lane, Bradford, and his body found dumped in the grounds of a former nursing home.

A jury at Leeds Crown Court took almost four days to reach the unanimous guilty verdicts against the men.

The jury of five men and six women were discharged after failing to reach verdicts after more than 21 hours of deliberation on murder and conspiracy to rob charges against a fourth Leeds man, Anthony Neale, 27, of Nice View, Harehills, along with Darren Martin, 37, of Makefield Avenue, Bradford, and Antony Davies, of Lloyds Avenue, Bradford.

Prosecutor Tom Bayliss QC told the court the Crown Prosecution Service will be seeking a retrial against the three men.

Mumtaz Ali, 37, of Astral View, Wibsey, Bradford, walked free from court after being cleared of both charges.

The trial has heard how the robbers beat and tortured Mr Simpson because he was an easy target. The robbers hoped to find £300,000 cash and possible drugs at his home.

Mr Simpson was dragged from his house, leaving a trail of blood, and was never again seen alive.

The court has heard how Witter, Cameron and Daniel went to Mr Simpson's home but were disturbed by his friend Gary Folkard, who was also violently attacked.

The court heard how Mr Folkard was beaten with a monkey wrench before having a gun forced in his mouth.

Mr Simpson was seen to being bundled into a white van.

The father-of-four's partially clothed body was found at a "dumping site" with his hands and feet bound.

He had suffered 56 external injuries and a shattered skull believed to have been caused by severe blows and stamps. He may also have been throttled with a belt.

He was dragged from his home just after 8pm on August 1 last year and found the next morning by the side of a track in Wyke, near Bradford.

The jury was told the abductors were heard to say: "This man has done so many bad things to so many people and he is not coming back until he gets what he owes."

All three men will be sentenced on October 3.

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