A businessman was crushed to death by his own Land Rover as he tried to protect his property from burglars, a court heard yesterday.
Julian Gardner was left dying in a pool of blood after the gang ran him down and made off with thousands of pounds worth of car parts and tools.
The 52-year-old was attacked after disturbing the thugs as they looted the car repair workshop he ran at Bush Barn Farm, near Robertsbridge, East Sussex.
After being woken just after midnight on October 11, 2010, he picked up a shotgun he kept for shooting club events and set off to 'protect his hard-earned property', jurors heard.
His mangled body was found the next morning by his business partner. His shotgun was never recovered, leading police to believe the burglars callously took it from him as he lay on the floor dying.
Prosecutor Christine Laing QC, opening the Crown's case at Lewes Crown Court, said that Mr Gardner's injuries were so catastrophic that he stood 'no chance of survival'.
She said it was likely the intruders crushed him between a Jeep Cherokee bought days earlier and Mr Gardner's own Land Rover.
She told the court: 'Planned professional burglaries are not committed by people who will give themselves up at the first sign of trouble.
'They ran Julian Gardner down killing him by crushing him between two vehicles or between the vehicle and a nearby water bowser. His injuries were so catastrophic he had no chance of survival.
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'One of the number were callous enough to stop and steal the shotgun Julian was carrying it has never been recovered.'
It is unclear which of the six defendants charged with Mr Gardner's manslaughter, some of whom are related, was at the wheel of the car.
Farm: Julian Gardner died while apparently defending his farm against intruders near Robertsbridge, Sussex
Charged: On trial for the manslaughter of Mr Gardner are Christopher Leek, 30, left, and Paul Dunn, 33, right, both of Cranbrook
The thieves made off with expensive car motor parts and tools, along with specialised in mending agricultural equipment. The court heard Mr Gardner had lived at Bush Barn Farm for most of his life, and that his 92-year-old mother Molly also lived on the land with two lodgers.
The jury heard Mr Gardner, who owned several shotguns and was part of a shooting club, visited his mother every day to help her with her crosswords and take her to the supermarket. Miss Laing said that although the burglars had planned their operation carefully, they had not realised Mr Gardner that was sleeping in a nearby building hidden by a copse.
The plan was to steal Land Rovers once they had filled them with expensive items from the workshop.
On trial: Brothers Marcus Bristow, left, and Terrence Bristow, right, face charges along with the other four defendants
Defendants: Lee Delay, 23, of Tunbridge Wells, left, is charged with manslaughter, while Terrence Dunn, 57, of Sandhurst, Kent, right, is charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
Miss Laing added: 'On the night of the burglary, which was highly organised by the defendants, a large quantity of items were quickly stolen from the scene.'
The Jeep and the Land Rover were later taken to different locations and burnt out. The tools were hidden in undergrowth nearby.
Miss Laing said much of the case would centre on mobile phone analysis, showing that in the hours after Mr Gardner's death the movements of the defendants were within a limited area around Bush Barn Farm, Sandhurst and Cripps Corner where the vehicles were disposed.
Probe: Police at Bush Barn Farm investigating the death of Mr Gardner on October 11 2010
Brothers Terrence Bristow, 41, from Ashford, and Marcus Bristow, 32, from Tunbridge Wells, are charged with manslaughter, conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Also facing those charges are Christopher Leek, 30, from Cranbrook, Paul Dunn, 33, from Cranbrook, Oliver Payne, 25, from Tunbridge Wells, and Lee Delay, 23, from Tunbridge Wells.
Paul Dunn's father, Terrence Dunn, 57, of Sandhurst, Kent, is charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
All the men deny the charges. The trial continues.
Trial: Six people went on trial for manslaughter
Read more: Julian Gardner 'killed by burglars as he tried to stop them ransacking his £3m home' | Mail Online
Good to know they have caught at least some of the offenders. Just hope they get what they deserve and not some silly punishment.
Julian Gardner was left dying in a pool of blood after the gang ran him down and made off with thousands of pounds worth of car parts and tools.
The 52-year-old was attacked after disturbing the thugs as they looted the car repair workshop he ran at Bush Barn Farm, near Robertsbridge, East Sussex.
After being woken just after midnight on October 11, 2010, he picked up a shotgun he kept for shooting club events and set off to 'protect his hard-earned property', jurors heard.
His mangled body was found the next morning by his business partner. His shotgun was never recovered, leading police to believe the burglars callously took it from him as he lay on the floor dying.
Prosecutor Christine Laing QC, opening the Crown's case at Lewes Crown Court, said that Mr Gardner's injuries were so catastrophic that he stood 'no chance of survival'.
She said it was likely the intruders crushed him between a Jeep Cherokee bought days earlier and Mr Gardner's own Land Rover.
She told the court: 'Planned professional burglaries are not committed by people who will give themselves up at the first sign of trouble.
'They ran Julian Gardner down killing him by crushing him between two vehicles or between the vehicle and a nearby water bowser. His injuries were so catastrophic he had no chance of survival.
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'One of the number were callous enough to stop and steal the shotgun Julian was carrying it has never been recovered.'
It is unclear which of the six defendants charged with Mr Gardner's manslaughter, some of whom are related, was at the wheel of the car.
Charged: On trial for the manslaughter of Mr Gardner are Christopher Leek, 30, left, and Paul Dunn, 33, right, both of Cranbrook
The thieves made off with expensive car motor parts and tools, along with specialised in mending agricultural equipment. The court heard Mr Gardner had lived at Bush Barn Farm for most of his life, and that his 92-year-old mother Molly also lived on the land with two lodgers.
The jury heard Mr Gardner, who owned several shotguns and was part of a shooting club, visited his mother every day to help her with her crosswords and take her to the supermarket. Miss Laing said that although the burglars had planned their operation carefully, they had not realised Mr Gardner that was sleeping in a nearby building hidden by a copse.
The plan was to steal Land Rovers once they had filled them with expensive items from the workshop.
On trial: Brothers Marcus Bristow, left, and Terrence Bristow, right, face charges along with the other four defendants
Defendants: Lee Delay, 23, of Tunbridge Wells, left, is charged with manslaughter, while Terrence Dunn, 57, of Sandhurst, Kent, right, is charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
Miss Laing added: 'On the night of the burglary, which was highly organised by the defendants, a large quantity of items were quickly stolen from the scene.'
The Jeep and the Land Rover were later taken to different locations and burnt out. The tools were hidden in undergrowth nearby.
Miss Laing said much of the case would centre on mobile phone analysis, showing that in the hours after Mr Gardner's death the movements of the defendants were within a limited area around Bush Barn Farm, Sandhurst and Cripps Corner where the vehicles were disposed.
Probe: Police at Bush Barn Farm investigating the death of Mr Gardner on October 11 2010
Brothers Terrence Bristow, 41, from Ashford, and Marcus Bristow, 32, from Tunbridge Wells, are charged with manslaughter, conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Also facing those charges are Christopher Leek, 30, from Cranbrook, Paul Dunn, 33, from Cranbrook, Oliver Payne, 25, from Tunbridge Wells, and Lee Delay, 23, from Tunbridge Wells.
Paul Dunn's father, Terrence Dunn, 57, of Sandhurst, Kent, is charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
All the men deny the charges. The trial continues.
Read more: Julian Gardner 'killed by burglars as he tried to stop them ransacking his £3m home' | Mail Online
Good to know they have caught at least some of the offenders. Just hope they get what they deserve and not some silly punishment.
