Man killed by submachine gun, court told

Mr Parry was found dead at the scene on Western Road, Birmingham

A man killed on a Birmingham industrial estate was crouching down when he was hit by submachine gun fire, a court has heard.

Gavin Parry was shot dead by a Skorpion submachine gun at the site on Western Road on 13 April 2021. A jury at Birmingham Crown Court heard he was carrying a Sten submachine gun and wearing a bulletproof vest at the time of his murder.

Firearms expert Huw Griffith said weapon used to kill Mr Parry was "lethal" and that the entry of the bullet wound would suggest Mr Parry was crouching when he was shot.

Remell Bailey and Dante Kalis, both 28 and from Birmingham, deny murder. They also deny an alternative charge of manslaughter.

In addition, the pair deny perverting the course of justice.

The court previously heard Mr Parry was shot twice in the head, killing him instantly. Both bullets lodged inside his head.

Mr Griffith said residue from partially burned gunpowder, known as powder tattooing, was found on the victim's body, suggesting he could have been in close range of the bullets.

More bullets of a similar design to those recovered from Mr Parry's body were discovered inside a unit were the shooting is claimed to have taken place, the court heard.

Jurors were told bullet damage was also found on a red headlight and the front mud guard of a Suzuki mud bike.

Tariq McKlarty was named in court as a man who was also shot when Mr Parry was killed, but survived.

When questioned by prosecutor Simon Denison KC about the injuries Mr McKlarty sustained, Mr Griffiths said medical records showed one gunshot wound to the upper right chest, "injuring the lung, rib, collar bone and shoulder blade".

He added there was a second entry wound to his left hip.

The trial continues.

Correction 24 October: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the Skorpion sub-machine gun was used in World War One, when in fact it was introduced decades later.