Billy Webb murder plot trial: Men deny false alibis

Brian Roper said he was asleep in bed with his girlfriend and Paul Swann said he was driving around the Bolton, Manchester, Wigan and Chorley area. Both men deny being anywhere near Billy Webb's flat in Whiteledge Road, Bryn, Wigan, where he was shot as he slept by two men in the early hours of Friday May 25. Webb's girlfriend Helen Watkinson was also shot in the arm and has not yet fully recovered from her injury. The prosecution at Liverpool Crown Court claim Roper and Swann were both involved in the planning of a "planned and professional execution".

It is claimed that telephone records prove the two men were in the Wigan area on the night of the shooting. The prosecution claim Roper and Swann gave false alibis to police. Roper, aged 26 and 25-year-old Swann, both formerly of Bolton, are accused of conspiring to murder Mr Webb with others between May 23 and 26 2001. They are also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, together with Sarah Jane Barber, aged 23, of Barn Court, Julie Hardman, aged 21, of Hastings Close, both in Bolton and Alexander Latimer, aged 24, of Rodmell Close, Bromley Cross. The jury have been told the murder was related to Mr Webb's drug dealing business and the gunmen let themselves into the flat using a key. Roper told the police he went to see Swann at Hero's nightspot in Chorley, where he worked as a doorman, at about 8.30pm on Thursday May 24. He said he stayed there until about 11pm and went home to his house in Mill Hill, Blackburn. Roper claimed his girlfriend Sarah Barber and her friend Julie Hardman were also there. Roper claims he went to bed at about 1am. Swann claimed he picked up Roper's Range Rover at about 12.15am from his house in Blackburn and then drove around the Bolton, Manchester, Wigan and Chorley area that night looking at girls. He claims he met up with Latimer at Roper's house at about 3.30am, drove him home to Bromley Cross and arrived home at about 4am.

(Proceeding)