Prints on false plates were clue to murder

Fingerprints belonging to one of four men accused of murdering a Midland sub-postmaster's son were found on false number plates fitted to a stolen getaway car, a court was told.

Mr Timothy Raggatt QC, prosecuting, told jurors the VW Golf had been stolen by Christopher Morrissey and his brother Declan 10 days before the armed raid at Fairfield Post Office. Craig Hodson-Walker, aged 29, was shot in the chest during the attempted raid on January 9, it was heard. Anselm Ribera, Adrian Snape, Christopher Morrissey and his brother Declan, deny murder.

They also deny the attempted murder of Craig's father Ken Hodson-Walker, who was shot in the leg.

Ribera, aged 34, of Topfield House, Druids Heath, Birmingham, Snape, 25, of Camelot Way, Small Heath, Birmingham; Christopher Morrissey, 32, of Elmay Road, Sheldon, Birmingham and his brother Declan, 33, of Shirley Park Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, also deny possessing a firearm with intent to danger life.

Craig Hodson-Walker's fiancee Lisa Bundy was in court yesterday to hear evidence during the first day of the trial.

Mr Raggatt warned jurors that they would today have to watch CCTV footage from the shop near Stourbridge, showing the raid and that it had "alarming and somewhat frightening features".

He told the court Christopher Morrissey's prints had been found on the number plates while part of his brother's fingerprint was found on a CD in the car.

"Christopher Morrissey has handled these number plates and they have then been fitted on the vehicle," said Mr Raggatt.

Mr Raggatt said the Crown believed there was "a powerful link" between the Morrissey brothers and the VW Golf.

Birmingham Crown Court also heard Declan Morrissey's size five shoe prints had been found at the scene of the shooting at Fairfield and in the car and the house it was stolen from. Both deny stealing the car.

The prosecution said Snape had admitted driving the stolen VW Golf allegedly involved in the raid.

The trial continues.