A MURDER victim whose body was found in his burned out car was blasted to death from point-blank range, a jury heard at Manchester Crown Court.

Stacey Lloyd, from Whitefield, was shot in the right side of the head and suffered huge injuries to the skull and brain.

Mr Lloyd's body was discovered in his car which had been set on fire.

Home Office pathologist Dr Philip Lumb, who examined Mr Lloyd, told the court: "He was shot from relatively close range - within a few centimetres or so.

"It caused severe internal injuries to the skull and brain and all the features suggest he was already dead by the time the fire was started."

Graham Redford, aged 42, of Whittle Street, Walkden, and Clive Heaton, aged 46, of Belcroft Grove, Little Hulton, are both charged with Mr Lloyd's murder. Both deny the charges.

Redford's wife, Sharon, aged 39, also of Whittle Street, denies perverting the course of justice by allegedly providing a false alibi for her husband during the murder investigation.

The Crown alleges that Mr Lloyd was shot by Redford when he went to an industrial unit in Radcliffe to collect money Redford owed to another man over a business deal.

It is claimed he was helped in the killing by Heaton and the two men set light to the body in a country lane.

Proceeding