'Gun factory' jury into third day

The prosecution said converted replica guns had been linked to eight murders

Jurors in the trial of two men accused of converting replica guns into live weapons, later linked to eight murders, are still trying to reach a verdict.

Grant Wilkinson, 34, and Gary Lewis, 38, deny nine charges of firearms offences after the discovery of weapons and ammunition near Reading last July.

The prosecution says Mr Wilkinson bought 90 replica guns which he told the dealer were for a James Bond film.

Reading Crown Court heard the weapons were actually converted and sold.

The jury, which was sent out on Friday, resumed its deliberations on Wednesday.

'Good morals'

During the trial, the jurors heard Mr Wilkinson and Mr Lewis converted 90 replicas into live Mac 10 submachine guns in the factory at The Briars in Basingstoke Road, Three Mile Cross.

They were later linked to fatal shootings in London, Birmingham and Manchester, prosecutors claimed.

The majority of the killings took place in London, dating back to the summer of 2004, they said.

The men deny being responsible for a gun factory

Weapons were found at the site and also in a field in Juniper Lane, Buckinghamshire.

The jury was told dozens of other converted guns had been recovered from London, Birmingham, Southampton and the West Country.

Mr Lewis told the court he worked for Mr Wilkinson but had nothing to do with firearms, telling jurors he had "good morals".

Mr Wilkinson, of no fixed address, and Mr Lewis, of Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, deny charges of conspiracy to convert imitation firearms, conspiracy to sell or transfer firearms and conspiracy to sell or transfer ammunition.

They also deny two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon and two counts of possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life