John Pordage murder trial: 'Western-style pistol' used

John Pordage was shot dead at a petrol station in Chelmsford

A woman saw a "Western-style" gun in a teenager's hands after an electrician was shot dead, a court has heard.

The witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Woolwich Crown Court she saw Bradley Blundell holding the weapon, which was wrapped in a T-shirt and plastic food bag.

Mr Blundell, 19, denies murdering John Pordage at a BP petrol station in Chelmsford, Essex.

The 34-year-old, of Galleywood, was shot dead on 5 August 2017.

The teenage witness was in the passenger seat of Ella Colgate's car when three boys in the back, including Mr Blundell, forced their way out to confront Mr Pordage and a friend at the Baddow Road petrol station.

She told the court that Ms Colgate asked the boys if they were "carrying anything" and had been told "no".

But after hearing two "pops", the witness recalled seeing a "toy gun" wrapped in a T-shirt and plastic food bag in Mr Blundell's hands.

Bradley Blundell denies murdering John Pordage

During an interview with police on the day of Mr Pordage's death, which was played in court, the witness said: "Brad was holding it. It looked like it was a little pistol, like in the Western films."

"Everybody round Chelmsford that age carries something. Like a knife or one of those police batons or a gun."

Jurors also heard that Miss Colgate had contacted the witness on social media app Snapchat to discuss the trial and said she "shouldn't be nervous".

The teenager told how Miss Colgate said she had spoken to Mr Blundell, who had gone through the court papers and seen that neither of them said they saw him "do it".

"She said that she didn't remember and that was what she was going to say," the witness said.

Mr Blundell, of Cromwell Close, Boreham, also denies possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Ms Colgate, 18, of Aldridge Close, Chelmsford, denies conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The trial continues.

The shooting took place at a BP garage on Baddow Road