Laser pen sparked Bilston killing - claim

An innocent bystander was shot dead outside his Bilston bar by a hooded gunman looking to execute a man for shining a laser pen into a car, a murder trial heard this afternoon.

Swinder Singh Batth, aged 47, died after being gunned down outside Gavin's Sports Bar.

Eight men and a woman went on trial at Birmingham Crown Court today accused over the killing or an allegation of witness intimidation.

Mr Christopher Hotten QC, prosecuting, told the jury: "The aim of the gunman was poor.

"The victim was in all probability an innocent bystander struck by a bullet fired with murderous intent and a considered and deliberate desire for revenge."

Father-of-four Mr Batth, of Hughes Road in Moxley, ran the Hall Street bar with his 19-year-old son Gavin.

Two cars, a Seat people carrier and a black Renault Clio, pulled up outside carrying nine men and a woman around midnight on July 28 last year, the jury heard.

Alleged gunman Sukwinder Singh Sanghera, 24, of West Bromwich, was part of a seven-strong "team" prepared to use "lethal force against anyone who stood in their way", Mr Hotten said.

He told how Sanghera got out of the Seat wanting to "find and execute" a man who had earlier insulted a member of the group.

The court heard how one of the defendants, Jasbir Takhar, had been in a car with girlfriend Neesha Dubb when a green laser pen was shone from a Fiat Punto carrying a number of young men near the sports bar.

One of the occupants was named as Kieran.

Takhar, 23, of Coseley, confronted people in the car and was clearly angry at being "disrespected", Mr Hotten said.

"Mr Takhar was determined not to let the matter go but to recruit a team to take revenge on Kieran."

Those accused of murder and conspiracy to commit violent disorder are: Gurpreet Singh Ottalan, aged 22, of Western Drive, Bilston; Onkar Singh Sangha, 22 of Babors Field, Bilston; Narinder Kumar, 26, of Slade Close, West Bromwich; Neesha Dubb, 20, of Western Drive, Bilston; Jarnail Singh Bajwa, 25, of Bickley Road, Bilston; Sukwinder Singh Sanghera, 24, of Albion Road, West Bromwich.

Jasbir Singh Takhar, 23, of Birmingham New Road, Coseley, is charged with murder.

Accused of witness intimidation are Amardeep Narwal, 25, Sedgley Grove, Birmingham, and Shiv Dubb, 18, of Western Drive.

The trial continues.