Murder victim Aquil Richardson was shot twice in the head by a motorcycle-riding gunman, a jury has heard.

Antoine Herbert Anderson, 31, and Philip Anthony Bradshaw, 26, are jointly accused of the slaying in Camp Hill, Southampton, on Boxing Day 2007.

They went on trial at Supreme Court yesterday over that, plus a further charge of shooting another man named Lavar Smith in the same incident (see separate story, page 2)

Opening the case against them, Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney told the jury Mr. Richardson, 30, and some friends were standing at the gateway of a premises where Camp Hill Road meets Horseshoe Road.

"At about 8.30 to 9 p.m a motorbike travelling from the direction of Rangers came along Horseshoe Road slightly past where they were standing, and stopped.

"The passenger on the back of the bike, who was dressed in a black jacket and a hood with fur on the hood, pulled out a firearm and proceeded to fire shots in their direction.

"The men who were at that premises started to run towards the back of the premises. Aquil Richardson somehow found himself on the ground. The rider got off the bike and walked over to him, fired two shots into him, got back on the bike and they rode off the rider and shooter rode off."

Mr. Mahoney continued: "Subsequent investigations revealed that both the accused had left their home in Curving Avenue earlier that night, with Bradshaw wearing a black jacket with a hood with fur on it. They left around 7.30-8pm, that time of night. They returned to that premises between 10-10.45pm that night. On their return, the accused Anderson told a witness, Ms Malika Gumbs, that if the Police was to question her she was to say that both himself and Bradshaw were at home pretty much for that night."

The prosecutor said investigators found gunshot residue on the jacket Bradshaw wore and a pair of pants belonging to Anderson. This led to their apprehension by the Police.

The men are said by the prosecution to have been engaged in a joint enterprise over the alleged shootings.

"So if my role is to provide transportation and I take you to the spot and my colleague gets out, does the killing, I am just as guilty as the person who actually pulled the trigger," Mr. Mahoney explained to the seven men and five women of the jury.

The first witness for the prosecution was Detective Constable Stephen Palmer of the Police Forensic Support Unit. He examined the shooting scene around 9.40pm on the night in question, which he described as rainy and fairly windy. Among the items he collected and photographed were a bullet case, a black T-shirt with 'pimps' written on the front, a spent slug and three bullet cases.

Det. Con. Palmer also attended an autopsy on Mr. Richardson, conducted at the hospital by a forensic pathologist three days later. Among the items he photographed were two bullets / slugs recovered from Mr. Richardson's head, and a plastic twist containing white rocks.

Both the accused have pleaded not guilty to murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Each is represented by a British-based Queen's Counsel alongside their local lawyer. Benjamin Nolan QC and Elizabeth Christopher are defending Anderson, with Anesta Weekes QC and Larry Scott acting for Bradshaw. In addition to Mr. Mahoney, the prosecution team comprises of Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Michael McColm and Crown counsel Takiyah Burgess.

In response to questions from Mr. Nolan, Det. Con. Palmer said the twist with rocks was recovered "from the backside of Aquil Richardson". He said he was not aware that these turned out to be crack cocaine, but they had looked to him like they were.

There was heavy security at Supreme Court three as the case began, with Police officers checking those entering the building with metal detectors. The trial is expected to last three to four weeks.