Whitbourne shooting trial: Police found arsenal of weapons at smallholding, jury told (From Hereford Times)

Whitbourne shooting trial: Police found arsenal of weapons at smallholding, jury told

4:16pm Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News

A JURY has heard that police found an arsenal of weapons at a smallholding near Bromyard where a suspected burglar was shot in the leg.

Firearms expert Keith Bushby said that 11 were unlawfully held, including a gaming rifle so powerful that it could be used for shooting elephants or rhinos.

He added that there were legal certificates for 14 itmes, which included ammunition and a silencer.

But some of the weapons were very corroded in some cases.

Robert Richards, aged 29, of Scholars Green, Birmingham, and 25-year-old Darren Randall, of Yardley Fields Road, Birmingham, both deny aggravated attempted burglary.

They are accused of being in a gang which targeted the home of Malcolm White in Whitbourne last October.

Prosecutor said Mr White and his partner Josephine Merrick were watching TV when their front window was smashed.

Mr White grabbed a shotgun, went outside and allegedly shot Richards in his right leg.

Forensic investigator Katherine Scott said she had examined hospital X-ray pictures of the pellets lodged in Richards' leg and estimated the shot had been fired from a distance of four to five metres.

The jury hears that Richards was later found in a wounded state near a Chinese takeway in Leigh Sinton.

He claimed he was just walking in the village when he was shot.

The trial at Worcester Crown Court continues.