Birmingham Court Hears Man Denies Driving Gunman to Fatal Shooting Scene
A man has pleaded not guilty to charges of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, following allegations that he drove a gunman to an industrial unit in Birmingham where a fatal shooting occurred. The case, which involves what prosecutors have described as 'truly shocking circumstances', is currently being heard at Birmingham Crown Court.
Details of the Alleged Incident
The court was informed that Gavin Parry, aged 31, was killed at the City Industrial Estate in Winson Green on April 13, 2021. Prosecutors allege that Tyveve Malone, who is now 21 years old, drove Mr Parry to the location in a black Ford Fiesta. According to CCTV evidence presented to the jury, Mr Parry arrived at the scene carrying what appeared to be a Sten submachine gun before he was fatally shot by an unknown assailant inside the unit.
Opening the case for the prosecution, Lyndon Harris stated: 'The prosecution case is that Tyveve Malone was in joint possession of a submachine gun with another man, Gavin Parry. Tyveve Malone drove Gavin Parry to a location in Birmingham in possession of the submachine gun and Gavin Parry got out of Tyveve Malone's car and ran to confront some men with whom he had had an earlier dispute.'
Sequence of Events Leading to the Shooting
The industrial unit at the centre of the events was reportedly home to a car repair business operated by a family known as the Baileys. On the day of the incident, a number of people had gathered there to celebrate a 17-year-old boy's birthday. The prosecution outlined the following sequence of events:
- At approximately 4.40pm, Mr Parry arrived at the industrial estate on a quad bike, followed by Malone's Ford Fiesta and a Citroen in convoy.
- A verbal confrontation occurred between Mr Parry and one of the Baileys before attention was drawn to an incident inside the unit.
- Mr Parry and his associates left the scene 'in something of a hurry', after which there was a 'flurry of activity' that included the disabling of CCTV at the estate.
- The Ford Fiesta returned to the industrial estate at 5.19pm, reversing up the exit road. The door opened but no one exited immediately, after which Mr Parry was seen running with the Sten submachine gun towards Unit 5.
- The Fiesta then drove away at speed, and people began to leave Unit 5. Mr Parry had been shot twice in the head and was found lying on the floor of the unit.
Defence Position and Prosecution Claims
While the prosecution asserts that Malone was the driver when the Fiesta returned to the industrial estate with Mr Parry in the passenger seat carrying the submachine gun, the defence presents a different account. It is understood that Malone accepts driving the Fiesta to the industrial estate earlier in the day but denies being the driver when it returned with Mr Parry.
Mr Harris concluded by stating that the prosecution believes Malone was the driver upon return, that he knew Mr Parry had the submachine gun, and that he had 'joint possession' as well as 'some degree of control' over the weapon. The identity of the gunman who shot Mr Parry remains unknown.
The trial continues as the court examines the evidence and testimonies related to this serious case.
