Notts man on 'revenge plot' murder charge

A NOTTS man is among nine defendants accused of killing a 37-year-old at his home, in what is alleged to have begun as a revenge plot against someone else.

The trial of the men at Warwick Crown Court follows what has been described as a "violently-executed attack" in which David Gower was stabbed in the chest and shot.

The defendants have all pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Gower at his home in Rugby Road, Bulkington, Warwickshire, on June 26 last year.

Sitting in the dock were Craig Halls, 38, of Bessell Lane, Stapleford; Gary Rahim, 40, Colin Potter, 45, and David Simmons, 27, all of Coventry; Leroy Smith, 47, of Leicester; Seymour Young, 46, from London; Harold Hurst, 47, and Mark Francke, 43, who may also be known as David Kerr, both of Derby; and Cleavone Fisher, 34, from Manchester.

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All have also pleaded not guilty to conspiring between June 21 and June 27 to unlawfully and maliciously inflict grievous bodily harm on Luigi Prota with intent to cause him serious injury.

It has been alleged that it was planned to attack Mr Prota at the house in Rugby Road in revenge for an alleged attack on Rahim on June 22 last year.

But it was Mr Gower, who lived at Rugby Road with his long-time partner Susan McBride, who ended up being attacked and stabbed in the chest and shot.

Before the jury was selected from a panel of 35, the judge, Mrs Justice Victoria Sharpe, said the trial was expected to last eight weeks.

It has been adjourned to begin next week.