'Stolen' car used in fatal raid

Four men deny the murder of Craig Hodson-Walker

Robbers threatened a man with a meat cleaver before stealing his car and using it in a post office raid in which a man was shot dead, a court has heard.

Christopher Morrissey, brother Declan Morrissey, Anselm Ribera and Adrian Snape are accused of murdering Craig Hodson-Walker.

The 29-year-old died after being shot in a post office robbery in Fairfield, Worcestershire, on 9 January.

The Morrissey brothers deny earlier robbing Timothy Pennel's Solihull home.

Mr Ribera, Mr Snape and the Morrissey brothers are accused of murdering Mr Hodson-Walker at the village post office and general store he ran with his parents.

The men, who are all from the West Midlands, also deny the attempted murder of Mr Hodson-Walker's father, Ken, who was shot in the leg during the raid.

Both of them were shouting 'give us the keys, give us the car keys Timothy Pennel

Mr Pennel, from Knowle, Solihull, told jurors at Birmingham Crown Court that two masked robbers broke into his house on the morning of 31 December last year.

The intruders demanded the keys to two cars on the driveway - a red Audi A3 and a silver Volkswagen Golf V6, Mr Pennel said.

The prosecution claimed Mr Pennel's Volkswagen Golf was the "key vehicle" in the fatal post office raid.

Mr Pennel said he initially put up a fight as the offenders burst into his home, kicking one of them in the chest, but soon noticed the meat cleaver.

He added: "Both of them were shouting 'give us the keys, give us the car keys'."

Mr Pennel told the court he nodded towards a bowl in the hallway where the car keys were kept and the offenders made off with both vehicles.

They also took his wallet and watch, he added.

Mr Ribera, of Topfield House, Druids Heath, Birmingham; Mr Snape, of Camelot Way, Small Heath, Birmingham; Christopher Morrissey, of Elmay Road, Sheldon, Birmingham; and Declan Morrissey, of Shirley Park Road, Shirley, Solihull, West Midlands, further deny possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Mr Ribera and the Morrissey brothers also deny attempted robbery.

Mr Snape has pleaded guilty to attempted robbery - admitting that he was the getaway driver.

The trial continues.

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