THE jury has retired in the trial of two brothers accused of accepting “suspicious” metal from undercover police officers posing as thieves.
Tommy Smith, 36, and his brother Joey, 24, are alleged to have displayed “wilful blindness” between January and May last year by accepting cables and metal they suspected were stolen.
The prosecution says the pair took goods, including a Mitsubishi sports car, from two officers codenamed ‘Andy’ and ‘Kinger’ who made comments to try to give the impression they were thieves.
Joey Smith, of Milton Road, Adderbury, denies six counts of attempting to convert, conceal or disguise criminal property, and Tommy Smith, of Bloxham Road, Bloxham, denies one count.
Their trial in Oxford Crown Court has lasted just over three weeks.
Yesterday Judge Ian Pringle summed up the evidence in the case to the jury and reminded them of the defences put forwards by the two brothers.
He said Tommy Smith had insisted he was “trying to trap ‘Andy’ and ‘Kinger’ and that he regarded them as dodgy guys from early on.
The jury will continue deliberating tomorrow.
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