Court hears claims drivers switched in alleged murder conspiracy trial

A scouser allegedly tasked with being a getaway driver couldn't do his job because he didn't know his way around a major Scottish city, a court heard.

Russell Clark, 31, told jurors that Darren Summers,30, was given the task of driving a motorbike in a murder bid on a man called Henry Stephen.

But the High Court in Edinburgh heard that Mr Summers didn't know the lay out of Aberdeen and that 24-year-old Jeff Binnie, an alleged accomplice, had to take over.

Mr Clark was speaking on the third day of proceedings against the two men who are standing trial with Warren Keating,29, on a charge of conspiring to murder Mr Stephen almost two years ago.

Mr Clark told prosecution lawyer David Taylor: "I think it was supposed to be Darren. But he didn't know his way around Aberdeen so it was Jeff."

When Mr Taylor asked why the men changed drivers, Mr Clark replied: "Because he was unfamiliar with the area."

Mr Clark, of Aberdeen, was giving evidence on Monday before a jury of eight men and seven women.

He told the court that he had grown up in the same area in Aberdeen as Mr Stephen and knew the people who were involved in the case.

He told the court that Mr Stephen was known by his nickname of "Aitcher".

He said that Mr Stephen - who another witness earlier claimed was a drug dealer - had fallen out with a man called PJ, who is also another alleged gangster.

Mr Clark said that Aitcher had once dated Mr Binnie's sister Ellie. However, she had started going out with PJ and that two men had fallen out over Ms Binnie.

Mr Clark said he knew PJ as P.

He said: "I assumed there was ill will. They never got on because Aitcher was going out with her and then started going out with P."

Mr Taylor said: "So was that a source of tension?"

Mr Clark replied: "Yes."

Mr Clark said that Mr Keating and Mr Summers came up to Aberdeen from Liverpool.

The witness said that the two Liverpudlians joined with Mr Binnie and another man, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Mr Clark said that the four men started to plot Aitcher's death at the home of his former partner Antonia Neil, 47.

He said the men obtained a gun, a motorbike, tracksuits and mobile phones which were all going to be used in the murder bid on Aitcher.

Mr Clark said the plan involved using the motorbike to locate Aitcher.

He said Mr Keating would be riding as a pillion passenger and that he would shoot Aitcher before being driven away from the scene.

He said: "They were going to find him and shoot him."

However, the court heard that the men's plans were set back when the motorbike that was supposed to be used in the alleged attack was stolen.

The jury earlier heard that the theft of the bike was reported to the police.

Mr Clark also said that the men told him and his former girlfriend about their plans to kill Aitcher.

He added: "They told us. They weren't exactly discreet about it."

Prosecutors claim the three men planned to murder Mr Stephen between May 1 2016 and November 24 2016 at a property in North Anderson Drive, Aberdeen.

Prosecutors allege the three men planned to murder Mr Stephen "in return for a payment of a sum of money."

The Crown claims that in "furtherance" of the "conspiracy", the men acquired a Colt Model DA41 'six shot' revolver and three live .38 cartridges.

The three men are also accused of firearms charges and a charge of possessing cannabis which are said to have taken place at different dates throughout 2016.

Mr Binnie is also accused of supplying cocaine and heroin at the North Anderson Drive property.

The Crown also claims that on October 27 2016, Mr Keating and Mr Summers robbed a branch of Coral Bookmakers at Cornhill Shopping Arcade in Aberdeen.

It's alleged that they threatened and assaulted two employees of the shop before robbing £2,800 from the safe there.

The three men have entered not guilty pleas to the charges facing them.

The trial, before judge Lady Scott, continues.