Scots mum recalls moment son ‘was gunned down' as six men go on trial over alleged shooting

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

Jurors at the High Court in Glasgow heard the six face claims of assaulting Neil Canney in February 2023
GUN DEATH Scots mum recalls moment son 'was gunned down' as six men go on trial over alleged shooting
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A MUM today told a court of the moment she raced for safety the night her son was allegedly gunned down at their home.
Georgina Canney told how Neil Canney, 37, had gone to the front door of their house thinking his friend was one of six individuals outside the property in Greenock, Inverclyde.
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Tragic Neil Canney died outside his home in Greenock in February 2023
Credit: PA
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Six men are on trial at the High Court in Glasgow.
The 62 year-old had been home with family – as well as two young children – when she said she then heard 'a bang' quickly followed by another.
The mum today told jurors at the High Court in Glasgow: "We obviously knew that it was a gun. They were firing a gun."
Georgina was giving evidence at the trial of six men who have gone on trial accused of murdering Neil on February 23, 2023.
Jack Benson, 24, Dale Russell, 31, Martin McCusker, 41, Brendan Balloch, 25, Kieran Hendry, 26, and Michael Munro, 27, all deny the charge.
It is claimed that, while acting along with another, they repeatedly discharged a firearm at Neil and did shoot him in the head.
The six have also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of the others in the house that night.
Georgina was the first witness in the trial which started today.
Testifying behind a screen, the mum told how Neil had been staying with her at the time.
Other relatives - including her elder son David - were also there that night.
Georgina had come home after a 12-hour shift working as a care assistant.
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She said she remembered chatting and having a coffee with those present split between the living room and kitchen.
Prosecutor Alan Cameron KC asked the witness did she later become aware of "something outside".
Georgina said her grand-daughter had noticed people in the street and said to her: "Gran, who is that?"
Georgina then told jurors: "I looked out. There were five figures at the bottom of the stairs and one at the side of my car on a bike."
She said Neil then came from the kitchen, also had a look and believed one of the group was a friend, who lived nearby.
The witness stated: "He went to answer the door and I sat back down."
But, asked by Mr Cameron what then happened, she added: "A couple of seconds later there was a loud bang then another bang."
Georgina told how she immediately "grabbed" the two children sitting on the couch.
She called on her grand-daughter to "get everyone on the floor" in the kitchen and they went behind a freezer.
The trial, before judge Lady Drummond, continues.