Car in Post Office raid 'was at suspect's home'

A car matching the description of one used in an attempted armed robbery was seen outside the home of one of the men accused of murdering a sub-postmaster's son in the raid, a court was told.

Craig Hodson-Walker was shot during an attempted robbery at Fairfield Post Office, near Stourbridge, on January 9. His father Ken was shot in the leg.

Witnesses told jurors they had seen a silver VW Golf V6 near the home of defendant Anselm Ribera in Druids Heath, Birmingham three days earlier.

Ribera, Adrian Snape, Christopher Morrissey, and his brother Declan, deny murder. They also deny the attempted murder of Craig's father Ken Hodson-Walker.

The prosecution says the VW Golf which was used as the getaway car had been stolen from Browns Lane, Knowle 10 days before.

The jury had previously been told that false number plates had been fitted to the car, which was found abandoned.

Contracts manager James Clarke told Birmingham Crown Court yesterday he had started work at Topfield House, where defendant Anselm Ribera lives, on January 6.

He said he had seen a W-reg VW Golf "racing" down the road with "steam pouring out from under the bonnet" before stopping.

Mr Clarke told the court he had noticed the vehicle because the car looked newer than its numberplate suggested.

Window fitter Paul Forrester who had been working at the tower block on the same day said he had also seen the Golf car and noticed the numberplate which "didn't match".

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 endanger life.

Ribera and the Morrissey brothers also deny attempted robbery.

Snape has pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, admitting he was the getaway driver, the jury heard.

The trial continues.