Dummy gun used to catch suspects, court told
ATOL protected. Operated by Modern Travel Centre. ABTA V3101, ATOL 0752. POLICE used a dummy gun covered in “smart grease” to help catch one faction in an alleged gangland feud, a court heard.
Six men are standing trial accused of firearms offences after two Newcastle homes – one in Brunswick and one in Benwell – had their windows shot at last January.
Jurors were told those allegedly on the other side of a rift - Paul Scott, Steven Scott and Steven Melvin - admitted conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
That followed the discovery of a shotgun, with spare cartridges, in a JD Sports bag in undergrowth near a bridge next to the A1 at West Denton, Newcastle, on January 16.
Junior prosecutor Richard Holland told jurors: “In an ongoing feud, they obtained a sawn-off shotgun with the intention of causing fear of violence.”
Newcastle Crown Court heard the shotgun was made safe by police and replaced with a dummy gun, which was covered in smart grease which can only be seen under UV light.
A covert camera was also left covering the area and the men were later arrested having returned to the scene.
The weapon seized by police was a 12-bore shotgun and was in good working order, jurors were told.
The court was also told about the police interviews of the defendants.
Michael Conroy was interviewed on January 10 last year and answered “no comment” to all questions asked.
Conroy was interviewed again on June 21 and to nearly all the questions asked, he answered “no comment”.
Darren Appleby was interviewed by police on four occasions in January, February and June. He answered no comment to all questions asked.
Jamie Moran was interviewed on four occasions in February and June and answered no comment to all questions. Bailey Wilson was interviewed in January and June and answered no comment to all questions asked.
Sean Ree was interviewed twice in September and answered no comment or remained silent in response to all questions.
Kenneth Moran was interviewed three times. In two of the interviews he answered no comment and in the other he was asked about a car accident during which prosecutors say he was driving a Mazda which is allegedly linked to the shooting in Brunswick.
Prosecutors have now closed their case. The trial will resume on Monday.
Michael Conroy, 36, of Heathfield Crescent, Cowgate, Newcastle, Darren Appleby, 23, of Deepdale Crescent, Cowgate, Jamie Moran, 28, of Whickham View, Newcastle, Kenneth Moran, 27, of Caroline Cottages, Slatyford, Newcastle, Sean Ree, 25, of Coach Road, Wallsend, and Bailey Wilson, 21, of Cartmell Green, Slatyford, all deny conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life in relation to the Brunswick shooting.
Ree has pleaded guilty to the lesser alternative of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, which the others deny.
Appleby, Conroy and Jamie Moran deny conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life in relation to the Benwell shooting and they deny the alternative of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Conroy also denies possessing ammunition, namely a .22 bullet, without a certificate.
Appleby and Jamie Moran deny possessing a firearm without a certificate, namely a pump-action rifle, and possessing ammunition without a certificate, namely .22 bullets. Ree denies criminal damage in relation to an alleged attack on Cafe West on October 13.