Particles 'could be from police'

The raid happened at the business of the Hodson-Walker family

Police officers may have accidentally transferred explosive particles to the jacket of a man accused of murdering a sub-postmaster's son, a jury has heard.

Anselm Ribera, 34, of Topfield House, Druids Heath, Birmingham, denies murdering Craig Hodson-Walker, 29, at Fairfield post office on 9 January.

Independent forensic scientist Kuwant Kaur Chana said the residue may have come from officers searching his flat.

But she also told Birmingham Crown Court her report was "inconclusive".

Mr Ribera and three other defendants deny murder and attempted murder.

Mr Ribera told the court that explosive residue found in his jacket pocket was probably caused by a firework.

Search criticised

Ms Kaur Chana, who was called by the defence, said a firework was "highly unlikely" to have caused the residue.

She went on to criticise the search of the flat by firearms and scenes of crimes officers who she said patted Mr Ribera's jacket and put their hands in its pockets during their search of his flat.

"They did not preserve evidence," she said. "They should not have done it like that".

Craig Hodson-Walker died in January

The forensic scientist said that instead police officers should have placed the jacket straight into a bag for investigations.

Mr Ribera told the jury on Tuesday that he was not in Fairfield when the post office was raided and instead had been on an extensive run near his mother's home.

"I had nothing to do with the robbery or the death of Craig Hodson-Walker," he told the jury.

"I had nothing to do with it whatsoever."

The prosecution have alleged he fired three shots at Fairfield General Stores and post office and that the other three accused knew he had a gun he was prepared to use.

Mr Ribera, Adrian Snape, 25, Christopher Morrissey, 32, and his brother Declan, 33, all deny murder.

They also deny the attempted murder of Mr Hodson-Walker's father, Ken, who was shot in the leg at the family's post office.

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

Mr Ribera and the Morrisey 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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