Man turned up with gun to ‘scare’ alleged victim

AMAN accused of orchestrating a “gangland-style hit” claimed he turned up at the home of his alleged victim with a loaded gun to “scare him”.

Oliver Pearce, 31, James Drakes, 34, and Ricky Webber, 29, are accused of attempting to murder Lance Keane at his home in Aberdare on February 1.

It is alleged four shots were fired through Mr Keane’s bedroom window by Drakes at the request of Pearce, who drove him and Webber to the scene in his white BMW and provided Drakes with the gun.

A neighbour described seeing “orange flashes” and “loud bangs” as the gun was fired, with four bullet holes later found in the bedroom window.

Drakes, of Edmondes Street, Tylorstown, Ferndale, and Pearce, of Ynyslyn Road, Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd, have pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and Pearce has also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with ammunition in a public place. Drakes has pleaded not guilty to that charge and Webber, of Nythbran Terrace, Porth, has denied both charges. All three defendants deny attempted murder.

Giving evidence during the trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court yesterday Pearce described an incident involving Mr Keane at his father Konrad Pazstor’s home in Trecynon on January 31.

He said: “I arrived at my father’s house. Lance Keane was on the street. I got out of a car and he was acting aggressively with a knife.

“[He was saying] all sorts of stuff, threatening words, saying he was going to stab everybody. I was frightened so I retreated and pulled myself out of that situation.”

Defence barrister Huw Davies asked Pearce what he decided to do.

Pearce said: “I was frightened for my life. I decided to go home and retrieve the gun. That was the same day. It was in the attic of my mother’s house in a safe – she was unaware it was there.”

The defendant said he found the gun, as well as ammunition, on a farm where he grew up.

Pearce said on February 1 he picked up Webber, whom he had asked to look at a boiler, and Drakes before going to Mr Keane’s house in Windsor Road to “resolve” their issues.

Describing events’ Pearce said: “Initially at the stop I opened the glove box – the gun was there. I got out, knocked at the door, the door was slightly ajar and the light was on. I shouted: ‘Lance, Lance.’ The door was open and I backed off. It was slightly ajar.

“I knocked on the door and shouted up. My understanding was I had reason to believe he was downstairs in the property. I did not [go into the property].

“It was really quick how it happened. I backed off, [Drakes] got out of the car, and I instructed him to put some shots through the window into the ceiling just to frighten this guy like. It was in the glove box of my car.”

After Drakes discharged the gun

Pearce said the three defendants left the scene and he threw the gun out of the car while driving over the Rhigos Mountain.

Mr Davies said: “When you went to Windsor Road did you intend to kill Lance Keane or endanger his life in any way?”

Pearce said: “No. I wanted to make him feel frightened like he did with me and my family.”

In cross-examination prosecutor Christopher Rees put it to the defendant he went to Mr Keane’s house seeking revenge.

The defendant said: “No, because I was frightened of the guy, I was frightened for my life. I wanted to resolve it. I didn’t want hassle or any repercussions. I wanted civil ground but this guy was unpredictable.”

The prosecutor put it to Pearce that he had recruited Drakes and Webber to help end the dispute with Mr Keane by murdering him.

He added: “You didn’t have the guts to fire that gun through Lance Keane’s window.”

Pearce said: “I don’t think I did no.” The trial continues.