How a 'killer' fled justice

18 November 2009

AN ALLEGED contract killer escaped justice for six years after his fingerprints were taken off the police database, the Old Bailey heard.

Merrick Brown, 39, allegedly executed Shaun Fray, 36, with a single bullet through the back of the head in October, 2001.

Jurors heard Brown left behind a series of finger and palm prints on banking documents at the victim's home in East Ham.

By chance, Brown was arrested three months later over an unrelated matter and his details entered on the system.

But by the time scientists had finished processing the murder scene evidence, that other matter had been dropped and his prints erased, the court heard.

A match was only made in 2007 after a cold case review and it took until March this year to extradite Brown from his new home in Florida.

Jurors heard that Mr Fray was shot dead shortly after arriving home from work at 7.30pm on October 16, 2001.

His wife was cooking dinner in the kitchen when a gunman suddenly appeared in the doorway. He ushered her towards her husband's bedroom just as a single shot rang out.

At the time of his death, Mr Fray was living a simple life with his 21 year-old partner following their marriage three months earlier.

He worked at a hi-fi shop, had few friends and was known to do the vacuuming as soon as he got home. His only luxury was a Mercedes car.

Brown, of no fixed address, denies murder. The trial continues.

Full story in this week's Recorder