Possible links between the Christmas Eve shooting of Jakai Harford and Boxing Day shooting of Aquil Richardson in 2007 were probed by lawyers yesterday.

Antoine Anderson and Philip Bradshaw are on trial accused of shooting Mr. Richardson, 30, and injuring one of his acquaintances, Lavar Smith.

A black-clad gunman on the back of a motorcycle is said to have opened fire on them and other men with them in Camp Hill, Southampton on December 26. Bradshaw and Anderson deny murder and wounding.

Their Supreme Court trial has heard how Bradshaw is married to Tyeasha Anderson Cameron, whose brothers are Jakai Harford and Antoine Anderson.

Jakai Harford was shot and injured in a car in the Camp Hill area on December 24.

Police officer Francilla Henry told the jury on Monday that she was placed on guard duty at the hospital after Mr. Harford was admitted and saw Ms Anderson-Cameron and Mr. Bradshaw there that night.

Gunshot residue linked to the Richardson scene was found on clothing and a car said by the prosecution to be linked to Bradshaw and clothing linked to Anderson. (See separate story.)

Yesterday, Bradshaw's defence lawyer Anesta Weekes QC quizzed prosecution expert Alfred (AJ) Schwoeble about the Harford shooting, as he examined bullet casings found at both scenes. Mr. Schwoeble agreed that one of two bullet cases from the Harford scene was exactly the same type found at the Richardson scene.

Ms Weekes then quizzed the expert over the possibility that someone who touched Mr. Harford or the car he was shot in could have had their hand or clothing contaminated by gunshot residue from that incident.

Mr. Schwoeble agreed with Ms Weekes that this was possible, and such residue could remain in place "some days later".

However, in answer to follow-up questions from prosecutor Carrington Mahoney, he said although the bullet casing from the Harford case was the same type as in the Richardson case, this did not mean the bullets were shot from the same firearm.

Mr. Mahoney pointed out that Mr. Schwoeble did not examine any gunshot residue in the Harford case. The expert agreed that if there was none at that scene, it could not be transferred in the way Ms Weekes suggested.

Jerome (Sky) Martin, a member of the group shot at on Boxing Day, told Supreme Court last week that he did not believe the shooting of Mr. Harford two days before was linked or that Aquil Richardson or Lavar Smith had anything to do with it.

The case continues.