Accused denies involvement in 'plot to kill' man in caravan

A MAN accused of being part of a murder conspiracy has denied being involved in any plan to kill.

- JASON EVANS Court and crime reporter

Christopher Mills was attacked by two masked intruders carrying imitation handguns who burst into the Mills' holiday caravan in west Wales in September last year in what was initially reported as an armed robbery.

But the two raiders, Geraint Berry and Steven Thomas, along with Mr Mills’ wife Michelle Mills were subsequently charged with conspiracy to murder.

The trio deny the allegation and are on trial at Swansea Crown Court.

Yesterday, Thomas told jurors that as far as he was concerned he was only giving Berry a lift to the camp site.

He said he knew Berry wanted to “give someone a hiding” over allegations involving a family member but said he was not really interested in what Berry was doing.

Thomas accepted he put on a balaclava which he said Berry had given him and accepted being in possession of an imitation firearm - again an item he said Berry had given him - but said he had felt intimidated by Berry.

He denied being party to any plan to kill anyone.

His co-defendant Berry exercised his right not to give evidence at the trial.

Jurors were shown the imitation firearms recovered from the Mills’ caravan in the Argoed Meadow caravan park, as well as the gas masks and canisters found in Berry's and Thomas's rucksacks.

The court has previously heard that the Mills were spending the night of Friday, September 20, last year in their caravan on the site in Cenarth, near Newcastle Emlyn, when Berry and Thomas dressed in black and wearing balaclavas and carrying realistic-looking handguns - burst in.