Shooting victim Dexter Crowson was on Abraham’s Bosom when it is alleged he was struck in the forehead by an air pellet fired by Thomas Hicks from an upstairs window of a flat opposite. (Picture by John O’Neill, 0670386)

THE mother and brother of a man accused of shooting a teenager with an air rifle lied in an effort to help him avoid prosecution, it was alleged yesterday.

Summing up for the prosecution in the case against Thomas Hicks, 26, in the Royal Court, Advocate Chris Dunford said Irene Hicks and her son, Michael, had lied about the involvement of Reece Hicks, 17, to protect Thomas.

Thomas Hicks denies a charge of unlawful wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to Dexter Crowson by shooting him with an air rifle from the window of his flat at North Side, Vale. He also denies an alternative count of unlawful wounding.

His mother, Irene, claimed she had overheard her nephew, Reece, tell Michael he had fired the gun from the window on the day Mr Crowson was shot.

Michael, too, claimed to have seen Reece fire the gun from the window.

‘If Michael saw Reece fire the gun from the window, why did he not mention it in his statement the day after the shooting?’ said Advocate Dunford. ‘Michael could also not say why Reece mentioned this to him in conversation many months after an incident which, he said he [Michael] had witnessed.

• OUR headline in yesterday’s story suggested Thomas Hicks had accused his brother, Michael, of shooting Mr Crowson. This was incorrect. Thomas claimed Michael had fired the gun from the window on occasions but he did not blame him for the incident that resulted in court proceedings.