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Walsall barber shop shooting victim 'was targeted over car debt'

A man was shot in the stomach in a Walsall barber shop after a dispute relating to money owed over a car, a trial heard.

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Police tape at the scene of the shooting on Wolverhampton Road

Tehmoor Hussain was blasted with a shotgun at the Katz Kutz barber shop on Wolverhampton Road on May 19, 2019.

Mr Hussain was in a barber's chair just after 5pm when two men entered the shop, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

The men spoke to him and accused him of owing them money, relating to a previous incident involving a car, the judge heard.

Prosecutor Mr Russell Pyne said the men had hit Mr Hussain in the head before leaving to visit their black BMW outside.

One of the men pulled out a shotgun from the car and went to re-enter the barbershop through the glass door, jurors were told.

Hospital

Mr Hussain held the door shut from the inside and could see the man approach him with the weapon before he was shot, Mr Pyne, prosecuting, said.

The victim was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment after emergency services were called at 5.07pm, two minutes after he was shot.

Prosecutors allege the man who shot Mr Hussain was 20-year-old defendant Uzair Shahid whilst the other man involved was 19-year-old defendant Toyub Ali.

Both defendants say they either weren't there at the barbershop at the time of the incident or didn't do what prosecutors allege they did.

Mr Hussain underwent surgery at the hospital after sustaining serious injuries to his abdomen, among other injuries, and was discharged on June 24.

The victim said he knew both the men and was able to give a description about them to police, who organised an identity parade.

Mr Pyne said Mr Hussain had revealed a "short time" before the shooting he had been in the Chuckery area of Walsall in a Toyota with friends.

Money

The car had "come into contact" with another car, a Renault, and had driven off before details were exchanged – with Ali being in the front passenger seat of the Renault, jurors heard.

Mr Pyne said it was not known if any damage was caused to the other vehicle, he pointed out that references to the victim owing money over a car were made during the initial confrontation.

The "fairly distinctive" black BMW the two men arrived in was found burnt out around an hour and a half after the shooting, at 6.37pm, the court heard.

CCTV footage was found from a garage in Walsall which showed Ali, of no fixed abode, was near to the vehicle whilst it had its front tyre changed by mechanics, jurors were told.

Shahid had an electronic tag on his ankle which pinged off other Home Monitoring Units – owned by others who wore tags.

Mr Pyne said there were no units by the barbershop but alleged there was a correlation between the defendant's location and the location of the black BMW on date of the shooting.

Shahid, of Lichfield Road in Walsall, is charged with attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with possession of a firearm intent with intent to endanger life. He denies all charges.

Toyub Ali, of no fixed abode, is charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence. He denies the charge.

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