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The family of a man fatally shot in the head in Manchester by a killer who mistook him for a gangster have renewed their appeal to help bring his murderers to justice.

Halton McCollin, 20, was gunned down 12 years ago at the China Garden takeaway in Stretford in a suspected case of mistaken identity involving a gunman who believed he was targeting a prominent Doddington gang member.

Mr McCollin was with friends when two men, one armed with a silver revolver, burst in and fired three shots just before 9pm on Saturday January 19, 2008.

One of the bullets hit him in the back of the head as he and his friends, along with the takeaway owners, ran for cover at the Chester Road premises.

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Mr McCollin - who had no gang affiliations and no connections to crime - died in hospital three days later.

On Wednesday, his father Halton McCollin Snr said: "I wouldn't be doing this appeal if I didn't think there was so much to gain and to find someone out there who has that little piece of information so we can bring an end to these 12 years of waiting for justice to be served for Halton.

"If there's anyone out there who can help the process of bringing peace to people like me who have lost loved ones then I appeal to you to come forward and provide us with any information you might have."

A £50,000 reward remains available for anyone who can provide information that leads to a conviction over the case.

Martin Bottomley, head of Greater Manchester Police's cold case unit, said: "For Halton's family and friends, life will never be the same again. Twelve years may have passed but things do not get any easier for Halton's loved ones as they try and endure a life without the man they miss so much.

"Halton would now be in his early thirties and may have married or had children. Instead of celebrating these milestones, however, his family are left visiting his grave and wondering what kind of man he might have turned out to be.

"However, the people responsible for Halton's murder have been able to continue with their lives. Today I am appealing to anybody who knows anything to do the right thing and call us.

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"Halton's family and friends deserve to know what happened to their son and this case will not close until the murderers are brought to justice."

Anyone with any information should contact police on 101. Details can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.