Acid attack trial: Accused, 80, 'upset at end of affair'
An 80-year-old man accused of plotting a doorstep acid attack on his teenage former lover has admitted he was upset when she ended their affair.
But Mohammed Rafiq denied recruiting the person who left Vikki Horsman, 20, with 'terrible burns' by dousing her with a liquid containing sulphuric acid in MacDonald Close, Tividale on April 15.
The prosecution has claimed that he planned the incident after becoming jealous of her growing independence
Rafiq told the jury while giving evidence to Wolverhampton Crown Court during his trial yesterday: "I was upset when she ended our relationship but I was not angry."
He appeared in the dock alongside co accused Shannon Heaps, 23, and 25-year-old Steven Holmes and was told by prosecutor Mr Anthony Warner: "What we are saying is that you recruited the attacker.
"You got Steven Holmes to do it, Shannon Heaps to help out and gave Shannon Heaps the money to pay Steven Holmes for doing it." Rafiq replied: "That's not true."
Rafiq from Cheshire Road, Smethwick, Holmes of Allan Close, Smethwick and Heaps of Queen Avenue, Tividale all deny inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent and the trial continues.
