A MAN jailed for trying to cover-up a ‘savage’ gang killing in Blackbird Leys is again behind bars after he was caught trying to smuggle drugs into the dock during the murder trial.

Saffon Fakir, of Territorial Way, Oxford, was released from prison early last month for good behaviour after he was handed a nine-month jail term for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in October.

He was jailed for his role in trying to cover up the brutal slaying of Christopher Lemonius on June 1, 2017 in an alleyway off Jourdain Road.

The 27-year old Mr Lemonius had been hacked and beaten to death by a gang wielding machetes, chunks of wood and golf clubs.

Four men were given life sentence for the killing and another was jailed for manslaughter.

READ AGAIN: Chris Lemonius murderers get life sentences

Fakir appeared again at Oxford Crown Court today to plead guilty to one count of possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

The court heard that he had arrived at court as normal for his trial on June 19 last year, and after just 15 minutes he went behind the dock, which is protected by glass shielding, to use the toilet facilities.

While there he hid a tightly wrapped cling film package of cannabis in a bin, which on analysis was found to contain 10.1g of the class B drug, carrying a street value inside prison of about £150.

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In mitigation, Sumita Mahtab-Shaikh said her client had been threatened and pressured by other men inside the dock to bring the drugs inside for them.

She said: “In the course of that trial he was threatened by two people, one who was in the dock and one who was already in prison to bring in cannabis for them.

“He was told that if he called the police they would find out. He states his family was threatened, he was threatened, his sister was threatened.

“He was told that if after the trial he was sent to prison his life would be made worse, if on the outside at the end of the trial they would go to get him.

“He found himself in a vulnerable position and he succumbed to this pressure and the threats. He is very sorry for that."

The court heard that since he was jailed for his part in trying to cover up the killing he had become a ‘model prisoner’ and had been committed to serving his time and moving on with his life upon release.

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Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC said that the offence was so serious he would impose an immediate term of imprisonment. He said: “Between April and October last year you along with nine other people stood trial in this court before me.

“During the course of that trial I permitted the defendants, including yourself, to go to the toilet, which is behind the dock door, if you needed to during the course of the trial without asking my permission and therefore interrupting the trial.

“An astute prison officer spotted what you had done and was suspicious and went to check that toilet, and found secreted in one of the bins cannabis.

“That is a very serious offence and you will know that.”

Fakir was jailed for six months and must pay a victim surcharge.