Dying woman robbed of Rolex

A millionaire's wife was shot in the back by two armed robbers who wrenched a Rolex watch from her wrist as she lay dying, a court heard today.

Joesephine Martorana, 46, died in hospital after the confrontation outside her Hertfordshire home. Her husband Giuseppe, now 48, also had his watch stolen and their son and his girlfriend were blasted by the gunmen as they made their getaway with the watches, worth £26,000.

Opening the case, Michael Pert, QC, prosecuting, said: "This was a determined and cynical attack fuelled by greed and showed a complete disregard for human life."

It is alleged Jason James, 29, and Daniel Whyte, 24, both of West Ealing, followed the Martoranas home from a shopping trip to Harrods in Knightsbridge on August Bank Holiday, 2000. The prosecution alleges Whyte spotted Mrs Martorana's Rolex after "an unsuccessful afternoon looking for somebody to rob".

As they began unloading the boot of their car on the drive of their home in Hoddesdon, Mr Martorana noticed two black men walking towards the house.

"He thought nothing of it," Mr Pert told St Albans Crown Court. "The next thing he was aware of was somebody grabbing his watch from his wrist. He grabbed the man and struggled with him."

Mr Martorana then heard one attacker say: "We've got a gun," and thought the first man passed a silver revolver to the other, who the prosecution allege was James.

"He then heard a shot," said Mr Pert. "He let go of the first man and saw his wife fall to the ground."

At this point, the couple's son, Stephen, who had been upstairs with his girlfriend, Isabella Agnes, ran from the house to confront the thieves. He was shot in the chest and fell to the ground," said Mr Pert. "Isabella came out behind him and she too was shot.

"Mr Martorana saw the gunman stoop over the figure of his wife and take her Rolex."

Having thought his wife and son had been killed, Mr Martorana was "consumed by grief and rage" and chased after the attackers. The gunman fired at him and missed.

He then chased the thieves in his 735 BMW and rammed them at a roundabout but it was not enough to stop their getaway in a Renault Laguna with false registration.

All three of those shot were critically injured. The young couple pulled through but Mrs Martorana died in hospital, a month later.

On 10 April, 2001, James was arrested and clothes were found showing the residue of a firearm discharge. Whyte was arrested the same day and told officers he had been at the burglary in Hoddesdon with a man he would not name, but said he tried everything to prevent the shooting from taking place.

James and Whyte both denied the murder of Mrs Martorana, the attempted murder of Stephen and Isabella, and the theft of the mother's watch. James denies the robbery of Mr Martorana's Rolex. The jury was later told that Whyte has pleaded guilty to the robbery of Mr Martorana's watch.

The case continues.