Neighbour 'shot dead in argument'

Krystal Hart, 22, died after being shot twice in the head outside her home in Belleville Road, Battersea, south London, last April.

The Old Bailey heard Thomas Hughes shot her after a dispute between Miss Hart and his girlfriend, who was described as the "neighbour from hell".

Mr Hughes, 40, from Stonells Road, Battersea, denies murder and having a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The court heard that Miss Hart had been involved in a long-running dispute with neighbour Angie Brewer at the time of the incident.

Miss Brewer was about to be made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order and the two women were due to return to court six days later.

Prosecuting, Aftab Jafferjee said Miss Brewer had been described as "the proverbial neighbour from hell".

'Furious obsession'

Hughes and Miss Hart's boyfriend David Siveter had largely kept out of the dispute until Hughes parked his car in front of Miss Hart's home on 6 April 2007, the court heard.

Mr Siveter wrote down the car's number plate, a move which Hughes took to be a slight on him, said Mr Jafferjee.

"David Siveter had dared, after an earlier exchange, to have written down his car number plate and that turned into a dangerous, instant, furious obsession," Mr Jafferjee said.

Hughes subsequently collected a gun and knocked on Miss Hart's door, shouting for Mr Siveter.

The court heard that Miss Brewer later told police: "Finally Krystal opened the door. He held the gun to her head and she looked at me pleading.

"He shot her. He aimed the gun at my stomach and I screamed."

Mr Jafferjee said Miss Brewer had been cleared of criminal involvement in the incident. The trial continues.

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