A murder suspect called a barrister a “nobhead” this week after claiming his uncle had confessed to shooting dead Ben Purdy during a conversation in their prison cell.
Michael Bagnall, 22, is said to have organised the attack on the 18-year-old Bermondsey boy to “teach him a lesson” when he started dating his ex-girlfriend.
Gun collector Andrew Bayne, 37, was allegedly recruited by his nephew before carrying out the killing in Bermondsey on November 23 last year. Bayne denies responsibility for the murder and claims it was Bagnall who brought the weapon to the scene.
Giving evidence for the second time after he was recalled to the stand, Bagnall claimed Bayne had boasted of carrying out the shooting while in their Belmarsh prison cell.
“He did say that he did shoot someone and his nephews didn’t have a clue about what he was doing,” Bagnall claimed. “I was arguing with him, saying he put me in prison. He brought a gun that day. I was pissed off with him.”
But when Bayne’s barrister, Andrew Lloyd-Eley QC, accused him of lying, Bagnall replied: “You nobhead. Don’t f*****g shout at me.”
The QC suggested: “If that had been said, you would have said it in given evidence.”
Bagnall responded: “I’m telling the whole truth. I didn’t want to get him into any more trouble.”
Bayne had claimed he was bullied by his nephew and another cellmate, who allegedly threatened him, drew on his face and even dunked his head in the toilet.
Prosecutor Crispin Aylett QC suggested Bagnall had also masterminded a letter, purporting to come from Bayne’s fiancée, which said she wanted nothing more to do with him.
Bagnall insisted: “We had no idea he had a gun. He just pulled it out of nowhere, like a doughnut.”
It is claimed Bayne and Bagnall were involved in a joint enterprise with Reece Bayne, 19, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named. They allegedly tracked Ben Purdy down to Mossington Gardens, before shooting him in the head.
Michael Bagnall and Andrew Bayne, of Alpine Road, Rotherhithe, Reece Bayne, of Concorde Way, also in Rotherhithe, and the 17-year-old, all deny murder.
Michael Bagnall, his 19 year-old sister Lee-Ann Bagnall and Anthony Bayne, both also of Alpine Road, Rotherhithe, all deny affray relating to an earlier confrontation.
Michael Bagnall, Reece Bayne, and the 17-year-old all deny conspiracy to commit assault occasioning ABH.
Andrew Bayne denies possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
The trial continues.