Prosecution case in Black Country robberies plot trial is 'flawed', says defence

The comments came from Mr Ronald Jaffa during his closing submissions for the defence during the three-week trial of Michael Scanlon and Gavin Reilly.

Scanlon, 34, of Rocket Pool Drive, Bilston, and Reilly, also 34, of Butteridge Court, Prestbury, Gloucestershire, both deny a single charge of conspiracy with others to commit a total of 23 robberies.

Mr Jaffa, who was defending Reilly, told the jury: "You shouldn't just be carried away by the persuasive and beautifully presented points by the prosecuting counsel."

He said that while the prosecution had alleged Reilly was 'the thin man' in a number of the robberies which had taken place, the actual eyewitness accounts told a different story.

"In the first robbery, the witness said the two skinny ones were in their early 20s," said Mr Jaffa.

"Gavin Reilly was 33 years and nine months old at that time.

"In robbery number two, the witness described a man in his late teens or early 20s. In robbery three, the description was that he was about mid-20s, with small features."

Mr Jaffa said that while Reilly accepted it was possible his DNA had been found on one of the balaclavas recovered from a car involved in the robbery, there was no evidence as to when he had come into contact with that item of clothing.

"Just because there is DNA on the balaclava doesn't mean it had been on their for 10 minutes, or 10 hours, or even in some cases 10 years.

"There is no timeline."

Mr Jaffa said while the prosecution had linked a mobile phone found at one of the robberies with Reilly, there was no evidence he had been using it at the time of the crime.

"He said others used the phones that he had used," said Mr Jaffa.

Mr Jaffa added that Reilly's fingerprints were not found in a car which had allegedly been used in some of the robberies.

The trial continues.