Junaid feared for his life, court told

Junaid Khan — shot

Four men on trial deny murder of Junaid Khan, 21 JUNAID Khan feared for his life so much he obtained a bulletproof vest — only days before he was shot dead.

Junaid (21) was “no angel” and it was possible he had been involved with the supply of drugs in Oldham, prosecutor Andrew Menary QC told a jury at Manchester Crown Court.

He said: “It is likely that this criminal activity caused friction with one of the defendants, (Milad Finn) who was involved with drugs — and could have been the reason for Junaid’s murder that night.”

Four defendants — Milad Finn (23), of Wythenshawe, brothers Kashif Khan (26) and Liaquat Khan (29), both of Worcester Street, Werneth, and Syed Naveed Shabir (28), of Coppice Street, Oldham — all deny a charge of murder.

Finn faces a second charge of interfering with the course of justice by making contact with witness Ian Cole.

The court heard how Junaid was shot at 17 times at close range and hit in his back and legs as he approached his car, which he had parked at a doctor’s surgery in Block Lane, Chadderton.

He had left his girlfriend, Tammy Williams, shortly before midnight on July 8, 2009.

Minutes later Tammy’s friend said she heard someone outside say, “How’s this for you homeboy?” before a number of shots were fired, Junaid screamed out and more bullets were discharged.

Days before the murder, Junaid, of Cotton Mill Crescent, had visited his friend Lisa Richardson and told her he feared something bad would happen to him.

He said he had obtained a bulletproof vest, adding: “I am not going to be around for long. I am going to be shot.”

Mr Menary told the court that one of the defendants, Kashif Khan, had been involved in a long-standing feud with Junaid.

He said that Junaid had once threatened a group of men, including Kashif Khan, and had even made inquiries as to how much it would cost to get him shot, but not killed.

On the night of the murder, the crown says that a significant number of texts and calls were made between the defendants using unregistered mobiles and that those phones were not used again after July 9.

Information gathered from the network provider showed that Finn’s phone had been used in Wythenshawe, then Cheetham Hill, Manchester, and then in Oldham.

The prosecution also allege that a silver 4x4 Mitsubishi Shotgun with false registration plates, which had been stolen in a burglary in Wakefield, was seen parked across Junaid’s car in the surgery car park.

Later that night it was set alight in Fold Green,Chadderton.

The prosecution alleges Finn was one of the men in the 4x4 at the time of the shooting.

Police will explain in detail how they searched Finn’s flat and found nearly £17,000 in the bin and in the letterbox of his home.

They also claim to have found two live bullets, identical to two of the type used in the gun which shot Junaid, in a teapot.

The trial continues