Dwaine Haughton: Murder suspect admits buying car allegedly used by culprits
One of the four men accused of murdering Dwaine Haughton has admitted buying a vehicle of the same make and colour as a getaway car allegedly used by the culprits.
Dwain Smith's barrister Ms Elizabeth Marsh QC confirmed to the Wolverhampton Crown Court jury that he bought a Nissan Navara but insisted he merely wanted to improve the pick up truck so he could resell it at a profit.
The 26-year-old defendant, whose DNA is claimed to have been found on the trigger of a shotgun that might have been used in the killing, also admits handling firearms in a bag which belonged to somebody else.
But he maintains he has not fired a gun, did not know the deceased and doubted he had ever been in Valley Road in Park Village where the shooting took place on July 20 last year, continued Ms Marsh.
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The shotgun was found in an arms cache discovered in Hackford Road, Lanesfield close to the home of a relative of 22-year-old Kurrum Guild another of the defendant's who often parked his BMW in the street, it was said.
He denies being in possession of any firearm and maintains he was not at the scene of the shooting.
The gunman is said to have travelled to Valley Road in an Audi A7 stolen from an address in Wentworth Road, Bushbury, the previous day.
The Audi was also allegedly seen being reversed into a driveway in Hackford Road where one of the occupants collected a dark item from the garage and put it in the back of the car less than half an hour before the murder.
It was reportedly driven away from the shooting to Chainmakers Close, Bilston, near the home of Smith, where those involved switched to a silver Nissan Navara.
The Audi was torched in Webb Street, Bilston, the following day.
Smith, from Chainmakers Close, Bilston, Williams, of Okemont Drive, and Gray, of Springfield Road, both Wednesfield, together with Guild, from Oakthorpe Gardens, Tividale, all deny murder, possession of both a firearm and ammunition to endanger life and handling a stolen car.
Smith, Guild and Williams further deny arson.
The case continues
