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'feared she would be shot' |
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Crimewatch
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Published in The Nottingham Evening Post
10th March 2010
A PROSTITUTE told a friend she feared she was going to be shot after she had spoken to police about the murder of Brendon Lawrence. The woman, who had the nickname "Bubbles", said she had "told them everything" and that she was frightened something was going to happen to her.
The gun used to murder 16-year-old Brendon, from Sherwin Walk, St Ann's, was allegedly hidden under a bed at the prostitute's flat after the murder in February 2002. The prosecution alleges the weapon had been left there by Rene Sarpong – who is on trial accused of Brendon's murder – and another man.
Gregory Dickinson QC, prosecuting at Nottingham Crown Court, asked the prostitute's friend: "Did she say what she feared might happen?" She replied: "She said she feared she was going to get shot."
When asked if the woman [Bubbles] had told her what she had told police, she said: "Who done it. That the gun was kept at her flat."
The witness told the court yesterday that she had also been told the gun was at the flat for three days. The jury heard about a statement made by a different witness in 2006, a woman who had also had a conversation with "Bubbles", who she referred to by her real name.
"Bubbles" had allegedly told this woman that the people involved in the shooting of Brendon had come to her house afterwards to clean themselves up and that they had shot the wrong brother.
Brendon died from a gun shot to the left side of his chest. He had been waiting in his cousin's red XR2i in Watkin Street, St Ann's, when he was shot. The prosecution has said it was "highly likely" he was not the intended target.
After the killing, Brendon was left for dead in the street and his attackers drove off in the XR2i. They visited the prostitute's flat, which they allegedly used to store drugs, and left the gun under the bed. The car was abandoned in Westville Gardens, St Ann's, and set on fire.
A temporary fire station officer, who had attended, said he saw small flames coming from the front seat of the car. The cause had been a tracksuit, either set fire to directly or something put to it to set it alight. There was no indication accelerants had been used, such as petrol.
Sarpong, 29, of Lamartine Street, St Ann's, denies murder. Co-accused Gary Brown, 45, of Hunloke Road, Chesterfield, denies assisting an offender, after he allegedly collected the gun from the prostitute's flat and got rid of it.
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Crimewatch 
