Gun residue expert believes ‘shot had been fired from car’
A MAN who allegedly “shot a gun” at a vehicle in Uxbridge last year told police that it was “false and ridiculous” and that he had “never been in a gang”, a court heard today.
Kelon Pierre, 40, of Roman Road, Bicester, who “drives for a living” appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, April 22.
Mr Pierre, is currently on trial for the following offences: count one, attempted murder, count two, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, count three, possessing a prohibited firearm and count four, possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate.
He has pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
Police were called to Cowley Mill Road at 11.31pm on July 14 after reports of a gunshot when a car ploughed into another vehicle and the driver allegedly fired a gun at it.
The court heard evidence today from a witness, forensic scientist and a police officer. Claire Davies, representing Pierre, asked the witness to describe what she “saw and heard” in regards to a second shot that was fired.
The witness said: “The movement was very fast, I can see a man but I cannot quite see his features.”
As the events unfolded, the witness said the man was carrying a “dark” object, which looked like a “black rod”.
The witness went on to tell the court that the first shot sounded like a “car crash”, while the second shot was a “very loud noise”.
She said: “I was conscious it happened very fast. I did not see a hand coming out of the vehicle. It happened very fast, but it was a shooting.”
The witness said her neighbours came out during the early hours of
July 15 to see what had happened.
The court also heard evidence from forensic scientist, Dominic Miller, who has specialised in gunshot residue (GSR) for almost 20 years.
The prosecution, Tom Nicholson asked Mr Miller: “Gunshot residue can even work out just how close you were to a weapon being fired?”
Mr Miller answered yes and “that it can remain on a surface for a long period of time”.
GSR is a combination of chemical elements fired from a gun that can be found on the skin or clothing, it is collected from an adhesive stub or fabric wipe.
The court heard how a cartilage case had been recovered from the boot of a vehicle.
Mr Miller said: “In my opinion, a recent fire gun has been in contact with those areas of the car, the shot had been fired from the car..
“The bullet passing through to the open window of the Toyota before the open window of the Lexus…. would have been likely.”
A police officer also gave evidence before the court today and will give additional evidence tomorrow.
The trial continues.