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May 15, 2023

Jury told of alleged roles of defendants in the murder of Nottingham man

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A jury has been reminded of the alleged roles of defendants in the murder of Michael Anton O'Connor and their defence to the charge. As summing up continues in the trial, the judge has gone over events leading up to the stabbing in Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows, on November 10, 2021.

Defendant Michael Mingoes allegedly used a knife to stab Mr O'Connor in what the prosecutor had suggested was a "joint planned attack". Mingoes was an alleged member of a Manchester "hit team" - with defendants Joshua Agboola and Joseph Boscomb - who travelled to Nottingham and ambushed Mr O'Connor.

But Mingoes said he came to Nottingham because Boscomb needed "a runner", and Mingoes was going to be allocated a patch in the centre. "He said that between November 6 and November 10, he began to prepare for the Nottingham trip," said Mr Justice Turner in his summing up on Tuesday (May 16).

Read more: Nottingham man Michael Anton O'Connor stabbed after ambush by armed 'hit team' from Manchester, court told

"He said he was going to be selling drugs and promoting the line (a drugs line)," he added. Mingoes, who gave evidence to the jury, had accounted for his movements on his arrival at an address in Wilford Crescent West.

He said defendant Michael McGuire, who allegedly had a drugs line, said, "they would be clearing a few bags a day", and he would be trialled. Later, they left the address with the intention of Mingoes damaging a car, which they could not find.

Mingoes left the car they had been in and heard a short series of beeps from Pitcairn Close and mumbling from the mouth of Pitcairn Close. He saw a male doing hand gestures and appeared to be animated.

This turned out to be Mr O'Connor, who Mingoes denied trying to challenge. Mingoes said a knife came out and he grabbed Mr O'Connor's arm.

Mingoes felt a blow to his cheek, pushed Mr O'Connor away, and claimed the knife must have made contact with Mr O'Connor's arm.

Mingoes told how he tried to trip Mr O'Connor, they toppled together on a car, and fell to the floor. "He denied ever having hold of the knife or making a stabbing motion" said the judge. The judge reminded the jury that Mingoes said he did not know what happened to the knife.

"The prosecution say if Mingoes' version of events is correct, you expect the knife to remain in Anton," added the judge.

Meanwhile, defendant Michael McGuire is claimed by the prosecution to have been the controller of a drugs line, called the "MI Line", and had the strongest of motives to resist the takeover of his business.

Michael McGuire was said to have been at his home, in Wilford Crescent West, to receive the men from Manchester. He was allegedly wearing a stab proof vest when they arrived - but McGuire said it was a Stone Island jacket.

With defendant Joseph Boscomb, he was alleged to have robbed a man before the murder, then McGuire gave CPR to Mr O'Connor. Mr Justice Turner said: "Was this genuine? Was this a cover? If genuine, was it remorse?

His brother, Curtis Sheard, also a resident of Wilford Crescent West, was allegedly part of an organised crime group. He was allegedly at the door when the Manchester men arrived.

Apart from walking his dog, he was in the house throughout the time they were there. He says he was playing on his X-Box.

Defendant Carla McGuire, mum to Curtis Sheard, Michael McGuire and Jerone Sheard, was said to be unaware of any drug dealing in her family and there is no evidence of a luxurious lifestyle.

* Eleven people deny murder. They are: Benjamin Taylor, 37, of Monton Road, Eccles, Manchester, Leonard Ward, 41, of Marwood Road, Carlton; Joseph Boscomb, 39, of Rostherne Avenue, Manchester; Joshua Agboola, 28, of Leven Grove, Darwen, Blackburn, and Carla McGuire, 51, of Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows.

Michael Mingoes, 19, of Powell Street, Manchester; Jerone Sheard, 29, of Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows; Rebecca Bell, 36, of Loughrigg Close, The Meadows; Paula Usherwood, 37, of Central Avenue, Beeston; and Curtis Sheard, 23, of Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows, Michael McGuire, 34, of Wilford Crescent West, The Meadows.

Two more women are also in the dock. Defendant Kerry-Anne Shepherd, 34, of Plantagenet Street, St Ann's, denied assisting an offender. Gemma Fearon, 37, of Dean Bank Close, Bollington, Macclesfield, denied a charge of encourage/assist in the commission of one or more offences. The trial continues.

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