Lawyers for gunman claimed forensic evidence was flawed

A KILLER who gunned down his victim while riding on a motorbike has had his conviction challenge kicked out of the appeal courts.

Reco Aubrey Joseph, 29, of Oldborough Road, Wembley, was jailed for life at the Old Bailey in March 2004 for the murder of Shawn Perch.

Mr Perch was shot dead as he was returning to a barbeque after popping in to an off licence in Clifford Gardens, Kensal Rise, in April 2003.

Yesterday (Thursday), Joseph challenged his convictions at the Appeal Court claiming that recent developments in the way forensic gunshot evidence is analysed cast doubt on the guilty verdicts.

His lawyers argued that the forensic evidence against him at trial - including evidence of traces of gunshot residue allegedly linked to Joseph.

They claimed expert evidence on this issue was potentially misleading.

But Lord Justice Pitchford, sitting with Mr Justice Sweeney and Mrs Justice Slade, rejected his challenge, concluding that none of the arguments raised by his lawyers rendered the convictions ‘unsafe.

At Joseph’s trial jurors heard he had been laying in wait for the victim, sitting on the motorbike as a pillion passenger, before ambushing Mr Perch.

Joseph put forward an alibi defence, claiming that he was at his family home on the day of the shooting.

The prosecution tendered an eyewitness who said the gunman was left-handed, which lawyers said reinforced the Crown case that the left-handed Joseph was the killer.

However, Joseph insisted that he only uses his left hand for writing - not for more physical tasks.

He was convicted of murder and possessing a firearm and ammunition with intent.

His accomplice has never been caught.

Mr Perch was killed on a Good Friday which was part of a murderous Easter in Brent that claimed the lives of another two men.