A man has admitted possessing a gun used to shoot dead the step-dad of an up and coming rapper.

Christopher Thomas, of Morrison House, Tulse Hill, is currently standing trial for the murder of Carlton Ned in Thornton Heath.

He was also standing trial for unlawful possession of a gun and unlawful possession of ammunition, which he was seen to discard shortly before his arrest in Brockwell Park on July 23, 2011, three weeks after the killing.

The Old Bailey heard when the gun was examined by firearm experts it was found to have been used in the murder of Carlton Ned in Thornton Heath three weeks earlier.

Mr Thomas, 22, had previously denied the offences but changed his plea to the counts after asking for the charges to be put to him again in court on July 15.

He continues to deny murder, attempted murder, wounding with intent and possession of a firearm.

Mr Ned was shot dead in his home in Langdale Road, Thornton Heath, in the early hours of July 1, 2011, after two masked gunmen forced their way into the property as his stepson Karl, a rapper by the stage name Konan, returned home from a party.

The 41-year-old died from a single gunshot wound to the chest. His wife Donna Michael was also shot in the incident, but recovered from her injuries.

The court heard Mr Thomas and Mr Wilson were known to each other as their girlfriends were best friends.

But jurors heard Mr Thomas grew jealous of Mr Wilson's friendship with his girlfriend Carmina Carew after the pair split up.

Today Orlando Pownall QC defending, said Mr Thomas would not be giving evidence in the case.

The defence will sum up its evidence on Monday. The case continues.

 

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