Coventry man who killed friend by shooting him in head while 'mucking about' gets 18 years - but cleared of murder - The Coventry Observer

Coventry man who killed friend by shooting him in head while 'mucking about' gets 18 years - but cleared of murder

Coventry Editorial 27th Jun, 2019   0

A COVENTRY man who killed a friend by shooting him in the head at almost point-blank range with a semi-automatic pistol will spend up to 18 years behind bars.

Jordan Bassett was given what is known as an extended prison sentence by a judge at Warwick Crown Court after being found guilty of having the 9mm Luger with intent to endanger life.

Bassett (25) of Tintagel Close, Coventry, who had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Addison Packeer, was jailed for 18 years, of which he will have to serve at least two-thirds.

He will then be freed before serving the whole 18 years only if the Parole Board considers it safe to do so, and will be on licence for the rest of the term and for a further five years.




Bassett, who had admitted possessing the gun by taking it away after the shooting, was cleared of murdering 27-year-old Mr Packeer during the incident on December 7 last year.

Prosecutor Kevin Hegarty QC had said that the two men went to a flat in Chepstow Close, Willenhall, Coventry, where Wayne Anglin ran a business cooking and selling Caribbean food.


They sat in the living room, and as Mr Anglin prepared food for them in the kitchen, he heard a noise and rushed through to see Mr Packeer had been shot to the head.

Bassett, who had fired the fatal shot, was trying to stop the bleeding, but then left, taking the gun, the magazine and the spent cartridge with him and throwing them into a quarry pond.

When it was recovered after he handed himself in a few days later it was in two parts, and in the magazine was a single bullet, although there was no round in the body of the pistol.

Bassett admitted manslaughter on the basis that he had killed Mr Packeer through ‘gross negligence’ while they were ‘mucking about’ with the gun, which he did not realise was loaded.

During the trial Mr Hegarty QC had said: “Both men were involved in drug-dealing and were acting together in that enterprise, and the possession of firearms to enforce their will on others goes hand-in-hand with such dealing.

“To have such a weapon and ammunition in such a situation is consistent only with an intent to endanger life. Why else do you have a loaded Luger gun on the streets?”

Of the shooting itself, Bassett said that while he was eating, Mr Packeer had been ‘messing around’ with the gun, and had taken the magazine out and put it on the table.

He said that when Mr Packeer’s food then arrived, he then picked the gun up himself, having put on gloves.

Of what happened next, Bassett said: “I was just pointing the firearm around, messing around. I didn’t think it was loaded. The magazine was on the table. I turned round to Addison, and the gun’s gone off.”

He tried to help Mr Addison before leaving with the gun and the magazine, which he threw into a quarry pool from where it was recovered by the police after he later handed himself in and told them where it was.

Asked by his barrister Tim Raggatt QC how he felt about what had happened, Bassett replied: “Words can’t describe how I feel. Addison was my friend. I would never want to hurt him.”

In a statement read to the court before Bassett was sentenced, Mr Packeer’s mother Grace Sterling said she had been watching the news and saw that a man had been shot dead and ‘the feeling I got in the pit of my stomach I just knew it was my son.’

She continued: “Life as I knew it crashed around me. I still can’t comprehend why his life was so violently taken. His killer may as well have killed me too.”

Mr Hegarty said Bassett had previous convictions, but none for violence, and at the time was subject to a suspended sentence for possessing cannabis with intent to supply it.

Mr Raggatt argued that Bassett should not be sentenced as a ‘dangerous offender,’ pointing out that within 72 hours he had handed himself in and told the police where to find the gun.

“Addison Packeer and this defendant were close friends, they had been friends since boyhood,” he said.

“The jury’s verdict must lead to the conclusion that the gun did not have its magazine in it when it was fired, and he was unaware there was a bullet in the gun. It was mutual stupidity.”

But Jailing Bassett, Judge Sylvia de Bertodano told him: “You and your friend Addison Packeer went to Wayne Anglin’s flat.

“The two of you, who had been involved together in the past in the supply of drugs, took with you a handgun and a clip of ammunition – and you took the gun out, apparently to play with it.

“While you were doing that, you accidentally pulled the trigger, and Addison Packeer was shot in the head. That is a death you are responsible for, and you accepted responsibility for it by pleading guilty to gross negligence manslaughter.

“I accept you did not know the gun was loaded, but if you play with firearms without checking for yourself that they are safe, that is a risk you take, and it’s a risk that cost Addison Packeer him life.

“I do not take the view that Mr Packeer maybe having been in joint possession of the gun with you reduces your culpability.

“Possession of a firearm is a grave crime, and possession with intent to endanger life is graver still.

“The connection between the gun and the supply of drugs is plainly shown by the evidence. You and Mr Packeer were discussing a drug deal in Stone-on-Trent.

“When a man involved in the supply of drugs is going around the community with a working firearm, the only reason for that is that he intends to use it as a means of enforcement.

“You didn’t intend to kill your friend Addison Packeer, but kill him you did. There is nothing I can do today or anything you can ever do which can put that right.

“I accept you were horrified when you realised you had killed your friend, and that you feel genuine remorse.

“I take into account that you did hand yourself in to the police and tell them where the firearm was concealed.

“But I consider that anyone who goes around the community with a firearm ready for use must be dangerous.

“The fact that you were involved in drug supply at the time means that that applies even more strongly to you.

“The sentence in this case must send a clear message that if young men who supply drugs arm themselves with guns, they will go to prison for a very long time indeed.”

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