Murder plotters used girl as bait

A teenage girl was used as bait to lure a businessman into a shotgun ambush by two directors he had sacked, an Old Bailey jury heard today.

The head of Premier Limousine Services, Romeo Atako, was shot three times but survived and was able to name his two former colleagues as the gunmen who were seeking revenge, said prosecutor John Hilton QC.

He told the court financial director Colin Crawley, 28, and fellow director Dwayne Ramsey, 23, were dressed in boiler suits with their faces masked when they opened fire. They had armed themselves with a shortened shotgun and a revolver.

They used Catherine Tye, 18, to befriend Mr Atako, 28 with the promise of a date, but when he left home to meet her Crawley and Ramsey shot him.

Tye, of Sidcup, Crawley, of Walworth, and Ramsey, of Croydon, have been charged with conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm between October 2002 and March 2003. Crawley has also been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and ammunition. All three have pleaded not guilty.

Mr Hilton told the court that Ramsey, Crawley and Mr Atako ran the stretch limousine hire business together when Mr Atako found out the other two had been abusing the company's credit card and terminated their employment. The trial continues.