Family row led to gun siege (From Oxford Mail)

Family row led to gun siege

6:50am Thursday 2nd July 2009 in Search

AN ALL-DAY family argument ended in a six hour gun siege during which a husband and wife held police at bay from their home, a jury heard.

John Cowley and his wife Wendy threatened her son Harry Such’s terrified girlfriend with a shotgun and, rattling a box of 24 shotgun cartridges, said that by the time police found them there would only be 22 left.

Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday that Cowley grabbed the weapon while his wife hurled abuse at Jenna Moore after an all-day argument escalated out of control on December 5 in Wessex Road, Didcot.

She said the couple went to their garden shed and returned with a box of 24 shotgun cartridges.

Miss Moore added: “(John Cowley) had the ammunition box in his hand. He started shaking it really close to my face.

“He opened the box and made a comment about how many cartridges were in it, 24.

“He said: ‘When the police find them there will be 22.’”

After loading the weapon, Cowley pointed it at a wall, saying he was going to shoot, said Miss Moore.

She added: “It did not go off and he said ‘it’s a good job the safety is on’.”

Miss Moore called police, who surrounded the house with armed officers.

She and Mr Such escaped through a window and the siege was only ended when police managed to enter the house.

Wendy Cowley, 50, and John Cowley, 43, both deny possessing a firearm with the intent of causing fear of violence.

John Cowley also denies one count of affray.

The trial continues.