25/10/06 - Threats to kill four-year-old girl, murder court case told
Essex Echo

A man accused of murder also made threats to shoot a young girl as part of an ongoing feud, a court was told.

Ricky Percival, 27, is on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court for the execution-style killing of police informant Dean Boshell at the Manchester Drive allotments, Leigh, in 2001.

He is also accused of attempted murder dating back to 1999.

The court was told earlier in the trial that Percival had burst into the Tretton family's home in Locksley Close, Southend, and shot three people with a pump-action shotgun.

The shooting was believed to be a revenge attack for the killing of Malcolm Walsh, who was stabbed to death in June 1998.

Terry Watkins, 62, formerly of Locksley Close, Southend, had married into the Tretton family and was convicted of Mr Walsh's manslaughter.

Yesterday, Mr Watkins told the court, Percival had threatened to shoot him and his family when they met in prison.

Mr Watkins said: "My wife came to see me in prison in late 1998 just before my trial.

"She was upset because she had just seen Ricky Percival. He made threats that he was going to shoot my family including my little girl Laura. She was four."

Percival denies murder, attempted murder, perverting the course of justice, conspiracy to steal, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to commit an offence.

The trial continues.