The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Shooting trial hears witnesses
The jury in a trial of a father and son from the city accused of opening fire on a travellers’ site, injuring three, has heard evidence from witnesses. John Smith ( 23) and Fred Smith ( 47), are accused of firing shots at a group.
Ajury has heard eye witness evidence about the moment when it is alleged a father and son began shooting on a travellers’ site injuring three people. John Smith ( 23) and Fred Smith ( 47), both of Edgerley Drain Road, Peterborough, are alleged to have driven onto the Oxney Road travellers’ site on the morning of September 17 and fired an unknown number of shots at a group of people.
At their trial, a jury was shown footage of police interviews with witnesses to the incident.
Kathleen Holmes, who lived on the site, said Fred Smith “jumped out” of the passenger side of a car and began firing at “whatever is in his range”.
She spoke about her brother- in- law, Tony Draper Snr, who was left with life- threatening injuries, being shot as he attempted to take cover with her and other family members in a shed.
She said: “He started screaming. I pulled him in be- cause he shot him at the door.”
Her brother Thomas Holmes, who was shot in the arm while he helped his 17- yearold son over a fence, said the family had been expecting Fred Smith to arrive to pay for damage his son had allegedly caused to a car and a shed.
Speaking from his bed at Peterborough City Hospital, he said: “He was very apologetic.”
He told how he saw Fred Smith standing at the driver’s side of the car, holding a gun but did not see him shoot it.”
The jury was told the defence dispute the evidence. The trial continues.