Tears in court as video of man's shooting played

Rikki Berry was left with "no chance" of survival after being struck with three bullets in Kirkby

The family of a man shot dead on a Merseyside street cried in court as CCTV footage of the moment he was killed was played to a jury.

Rikki Berry, 36, was hit by three of four bullets fired from a self-loading handgun at 18.33 BST on 17 July last year, leaving him with "no chance" of survival.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Mr Berry, nicknamed 'Nuggy', was in the front garden of his partner's home in Quarryside Drive, Kirkby, at the time.

Three men, Adam Williams and Connor Walsh, 26, and 27-year-old Michael Smith each deny Mr Berry's murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

All three men admitted being in this Seat Alteca Cupra car but denied knowing anyone was going to shoot or harm Mr Berry

David McLachlan KC, opening the case for the prosecution, said the three men had been in a Seat Ateca Cupra car that travelled to the scene from the West Derby area.

The car, later recovered by police, was seen passing the property a short time before the shooting, in what the prosecution suggested was a "recce" to check where the target was.

The jury heard a few minutes later the Seat car was driving "in convoy" slightly ahead of an electric bike ridden by a masked man and came to a stop as shots were fired from the bike.

Mr McLachlan told the jury: "You can imagine the pandemonium, the distress, the hysterics - understandably - at Quarryside Road as people went to the aid of Rikki Berry and did their best for him."

'Do you think I'm capable of murder?'

The court heard that Mr Williams had phoned a man called Stephen Frail five days after the shooting asking why he was "going round saying I have shot Nug?"

Mr Williams, of Hamblett Crescent in St Helens, reportedly told Mr Frail: "I have known him for years and you for years.

"Do you really think I am capable of murder?"

He also told Mr Frail he was aware of the electric bike and was scared because he "thought it was for me".

Mr McLachlan said Mr Williams has admitted being the driver of the car but said he was "unaware of any plan" to shoot a gun or harm Mr Berry.

The jury heard Merseyside Police recovered bullet casings from the pavement outside the garden, one of which had traces of DNA matching Mr Walsh.

In his police interviews Mr Walsh, of Simonswood Lane, Kirkby, initially denied being in the car, but has since accepted he was a rear seat passenger.

Mr McLachlan said Mr Walsh had offered "no real reason" as to why his DNA was on the bullet casing.

Mr Smith, of Marbury Road in Kirkby, also accepted being at the scene but also said the shooting "took him completely by surprise".

The trial continues.