Gun victim ‘was chasing gang after £2k robbery’
TRAGIC 21-YEAR-OLD WAS ‘LURED’ TO LIVERPOOL TO BUY CAR
A MAN from Manchester was ‘ruthlessly’ gunned down after being lured to Liverpool to buy a car, prosecutors allege.
Miguel Reynolds, 21, was shot dead after he and a friend who had driven him down the M62 were allegedly robbed at gunpoint in the Netherton area of the city.
After arriving in Liverpool, Mr Reynolds and his friend were told in ‘no uncertain terms’ to hand over about £2,000 in cash and to return to Manchester, prosecutors claim.
“Sadly and tragically, Miguel Reynolds decided he wasn’t simply going to go back to Manchester,” prosecutor Ian Unsworth QC told jurors.
Liverpool Crown Court heard Mr Reynolds, formerly of Whalley Range and Moss Side, began to chase his alleged robbers.
A shot was fired and missed him during the chase, but another shot hit the back of his neck.
He was declared dead at 9.14pm, on June 7, 2018.
Seven men are on trial accused of his murder.
Kyle Sanders, Liam Watson, Joseph McKeever, Paul Blackhurst, James Harrison, Jake Mawhinney and Dale Avery have all pleaded not guilty.
A woman, Emma Kirby, is also on trial separately accused of assisting an offender.
Jurors heard that there was phone contact between Mr Sanders and another man, who knew both the Liverpool and Manchester groups and acted as a ‘bridge’ between them.
Mr Reynolds and his friend were told to travel to an address in Marie
Curie Avenue in Netherton. There they parked near some lock up garages where one man told the pair that they were ‘waiting for the keys,’ in what the prosecution claim was a ‘ruse.’
Prosecutors allege that Mr Watson, who they say had the gun, put it to Mr Reynolds’ friend’s thigh before demanding money from Mr Reynolds. He handed over about £2,000, and they were told to go back to Manchester, the court heard.
The pair got back into their car and drove for a short distance, but ‘without warning’ Mr Reynolds jumped out of the car and ran after the men. A shot was fired which missed. Shortly after, the group split and Mr Reynolds pursued Mr Watson, jurors heard. Prosecutors said Mr Watson climbed over a fence to a communal garden. Mr Reynolds did not climb the fence and moments later he was shot. Following Mr Reynolds’ death there has been a ‘wall of silence’ regarding who was responsible for the shooting, Mr Unsworth said.
Mr Sanders, 21, of Charles Best Green, Bootle; Mr Watson, 31, of Litherland Park, Litherland; Mr McKeever, 28, of Howard Florey Avenue, Bootle; Mr Blackhurst, 26, of Cumpsty Road, Litherland; Mr Harrison, 22, of Kirkstone Road North, Litherland; Mr Mawhinney, 20, of Royton Road, Waterloo; Mr Avery, 25, of Marie Curie Avenue, Netherton, all deny four offences. They have all been charged with murder, conspiracy to rob, possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of prohibited ammunition. Ms Kirby, 21, formerly of Marie Curie Avenue, Netherton, denies assisting an offender.
Proceeding
Sadly and tragically, Miguel Reynolds decided he wasn’t simply going back to Manchester
Ian Unsworth QC