Post office jury told of meat cleaver car raiders

The first witness in the case of four men accused of murdering a Midland sub-postmaster's son today told of how two masked raiders burst into the home.

They were wielding a meat cleaver, heard the jury.

Timothy Pennel broke down as jurors were played a 999 call made by his wife Francis Petris while two men made off in both the couple's cars, a red Audi A3 and a VW Golf V6.

The prosecution say the VW Golf was used ten days later as a getaway car in an armed raid at Fairfield Post Office, near Stourbridge.

Craig Hodson-Walker aged 29, was shot in the chest during the attempted robbery on January 9.

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

Birmingham Crown Court heard Mr Pennel had returned to his home in Browns Lane, Knowle, when the raiders kicked through his front door.

"The first one through the door I just gave a straight-leg kick to the chest. That's when I saw he meat cleaver."

The trial continues.