Gunmen aiming for me, claimed dead man’s son

THE son of a man who was allegedly murdered told police how he thought those responsible were aiming for him instead, a court heard.

- By KRISTY DAWSON

Flowers at the scene of the fatal shooting on Elm Street in Stanley

Barry Dawson, 60, was fatally shot through a downstairs window of his terraced house in South Moor, Stanley,County Durham, on April 5 this year.

Emergency services rushed to the property on Elm Street but nothing could be done to save him. Five men are currently standing trial at Teesside Crown Court charged with his murder, which they all deny.

They are Kevin Dorward, 38, of New Durham Road, Stanley; Thomas Lee Sterling, 22, of The Avenue, Stanley; Kelvin Craig Lawson, 37, of Frosterley Gardens, Stanley; Keith Edward Dorward, 38, of no fixed address, and Sean Reay, 30, of Sabin Terrace, Stanley.

A sixth defendant, Michaela Hetherington, 35, of South View Gardens, Annfield Plain, Stanley, was also standing trial accused of perverting the course of justice. She has now changed her plea to guilty.

During the fourth day of the trial, a police interview with Barry’s son Shane Dawson was read to the court. In the interview he told detectives how he thought those responsible were aiming for him rather than his dad.

He said: “In my opinion he wasn’t aiming for my dad. He wasn't because you couldn't see my dad. Like, I made eye contact with him when he done it. I have looked and I have made eye contact and I have shouted ‘dad”.