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Thomas Sterling Says He Was Shocked to See Gun in Barry Dawson Murder Trial

Jurors are weighing claims of a planned attack against testimony that the trip to Elm Street was meant only to frighten.

Overview

  • Thomas Sterling, 22, told Teesside Crown Court he expected only window smashing and had no idea a handgun would be used.
  • CCTV shown to jurors shows Kelvin Lawson breaking the front window and Sean Reay then firing through it, fatally striking Barry Dawson, 60.
  • Reay admits firing the single shot and says he could not see inside and intended only to scare, calling the death a terrible accident.
  • Lawson accepts smashing the window but denies knowing about any gun as prosecutors highlight his DNA reported on a spent casing, which he disputes handling or supplying.
  • Prosecutors say the group fled to a waiting Seat Arona later found partly burned, and Reay traveled on to Ireland before his April 11 arrest; all five defendants deny murder as the trial continues.