Accused 'would have called the police if he knew about gun'

A DRIVER accused of murdering a woman shot in the heart at pointblank range said he would have called 999 had he known a man had a gun in his car.

- PHILIP DEWEY

When asked why he believed he was travelling from Leicester to south Wales, accused Tony Porter said he thought they were collecting a birthday present.

Joanne Penney, 40, was shot in the chest at close range when she opened the front door of a house in Llys Illtyd in Talbot Green on March 9 this year.

The 40-year-old died moments later. The prosecution says the killing was part of a "clash" between rival criminal gangs involved in a turf war over drugs.

Marcus Huntley, 21, of Orchard Park, St Mellons, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to murdering Ms Penney the day after a trial began.

Jordan Mills-Smith, 33, of Bryn Celyn, Pentwyn, Cardiff; Joshua Gordon, 27, of London Road, Oadby, Leicestershire; Kristina Ginova, 21, of London Road, Oadby, Leicestershire; Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 40, of Cordelia Close, Leicester; and Tony Porter, 68, of Burdet Close, Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, all deny murder.

Giving evidence at a trial at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday, Porter said he became involved in a relationship with Quailey-Dashper, whom he described as a "working girl".

He had previously been living in his car and living on KFC after losing his licence, job and home.

He said he would sometimes purchase crack cocaine for Quailey-Dashper but he is not a drug user himself.

Through his partner, Porter said he met Gordon and would drive him in return for cash and crack cocaine for Quailey-Dashper.