Hitman 'shot wrong target'

The court heard how the victim was shot in the stomach

A hitman who was hired for £100 shot the wrong man by mistake a court has heard.

A jury at the Old Bailey was told that Paul Jones got the wrong address and shot and seriously wounded Ernest Broom, 57, a neighbour of the intended target.

It is claimed that Mr Jones, from East Grinstead in West Sussex, was paid £100 and given a £3,000 Ford Granada car to kill security manager Dougie Burns.

Mr Jones, 41, denies conspiracy to murder Mr Burns, attempting to murder Mr Broom and a firearms offence.

'Amazing situation'

The incident is alleged to have taken place in November 1999.

The court was told Mr Jones had been hired by Alec (Tony) Bristow, who has been convicted of conspiracy to murder Mr Burns.

Andrew Munday QC, prosecuting, said Mr Jones was seen hiding outside Mr Broom's house in Worcester Park, Surrey.

When Mr Broom challenged the accused, he was blasted in the stomach with a sawn-off shotgun resulting in 250 perforations in his bowel.

Mr Munday said: "It's an amazing situation that one man would agree, for a Ford Granada and £100, to kill another.

"You would have thought that life had a higher price. Sadly, it does not."

The case continues