Trial of teen accused of Kesgrave shooting starts

Ipswich Crown Court heard the victim is partially paralysed and has some brain damage

Author: Arlen JamesPublished 20th May 2021
Last updated 20th May 2021

The trial of a teenager accused of the attempted murder of a peer in Kesgrave started today (20 May).

It follows an incident at around 8.40am on 7 September 2020 where a boy, aged 15 at the time, was shot on his way to school on Friends Walk.

Riel Karmy Jones QC told the jury at Ipswich Crown Court that the victim was shot in the face at a distance of between 0.75 and 1.5 metres.

She said the accused, who is now aged 16 and cannot be named due to his age, took his father's car to drive to Friends Walk and used his grandfather's 12 gauge Beretta shotgun to carry out the attack.

The teenager told the victim to get in the car, a silver Saab, and shot him at close range when he refused, the court heard.

Ms Karmy Jones said the teenager also pointed the shotgun towards neighbours, one who came to the victim's aid, and another who looked out of a window after hearing a loud bang.

The attacker "calmly" placed the shotgun into the car and proceeded to drive away in "composed manor", while the victim laid in a "pool of blood," she said.

Police restricting access to Through Jollys, which leads onto Friends Walk.

Family members of the 15-year-old victim, now aged 16, ran to get towels to "stem the bleeding" as he laid there without moving, Ms Karmy Jones added.

Police later found the car in the Westwood Avenue area of Ipswich at approximately 10.50am and had to smash the window to arrest the teenager, she said.

When the teenager was told he was being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, he said "I'm 100% guilty of that," Ms Karmy Jones told the jury.

The court heard the victim suffered a stroke at hospital and is now partially paralysed and has some brain damage.

Police waited outside Kesgrave High School as students left to provide reassurance.

The 16-year-old faces the following charges:

  • Attempted murder
  • Possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life
  • Possession of a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence
  • Wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm
  • Possession of a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence against a second individual.

He has denied all charges, the trial continues...

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