A ten-year-old boy shook with emotion as he told a jury how a gun-wielding Neighbourhood Watch founder threatened to kill his friend, writes Nick Evans.

The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was giving evidence in the trial of Marcel Thorbourne, who is appearing at Oxford Crown Court charged with affray and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Thorbourne, 35, of The Links, Gillians Way, east Oxford, allegedly approached a group of youngsters in Marsh Park, Cowley, last September and told them they should be at home. He then produced a pistol, it was claimed, and threatened to shoot one of the group, 19-year-old Ian Anderson. He denies the charges.

Giving evidence through a video-link, the ten-year-old told the jury that Thorbourne had approached them as they made their way home from playing in the park.

He said: "I think he was trying to start an argument, but Ian just told him to get lost.

"He just walked away a few steps and then came back and said something to Ian. "He got what I thought was a knife out and he got Ian on the floor and held his neck. I could see what he had was a gun.

"He put his knee on Ian's throat and put the gun real hard against his cheek.

"When he had Ian on the floor he started saying 'do you want to die'?"

David Taylor, defending, suggested that the children had made up the story.

He said: "Marcel was not in the park that night, he did not have a gun and Ian has told you to say he did have a gun to get him into trouble."

The case continues.

Story date: Wednesday 12 May

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