A murder trial of a young man shot dead in Liverpool collapsed today as jurors raised fears over Coronavirus.
Miguel “Migz” Reynolds who’s rap name is Lil Gwop Boy was allegedly lured from Manchester to Liverpool on the grounds he was purchasing an Audi S1.
It is understood that the execution was witnessed by an OAP before Miguel died in hospital just three days before his 22nd birthday.
Seven men – Liam Watson, Kyle Sanders, Joseph McKeever, Paul Blackhurst, James Harrison, Jake Mawhinney and Dale Avery all stood trial. They were also joined by Emma Kirby who is charged with assisting an offender.
The jury of 12 was sent out last Tuesday and had been considering verdicts for 12 hours and 19 minutes however today one of the jury did not attend court. It is understood the juror is self isolating having shown Coronavirus symptoms.
Due to concerns with cross infection the judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, discharged the jury with “a heavy heart”.
The judge asked that the entire court be cleaned before discharging the jury added that he understood how difficult this must be for the family of the victim.
Justice Sweeney told defence lawyers he understood it would be “disaster” for their clients and “frustrating in the extreme”, and said he was sorry they could not be produced in the dock to be informed of the development, “given all the cross infection problems” involved.
The judge has not yet set a retrial date but hopes to do so by the end of this week.