Flying Vet case takes dramatic turn as ‘Foxy’ gives evidence

Friday, 05 February 2010

REPORT by AJ SICLUNA

THE Cardiff Crown Court trial of the ‘Flying Vet’ who is accused of illegally possessing a Lewis machine gun nearly a century old, took a dramatic turn when an undercover police officer was called to give evidence.
The courtroom was cleared of all members of the public and high screens were erected around the witness box, in order that the identity of the officer known as ‘Foxy’ was not revealed.
At one point during the case, the defendant, Maurice Kirk, aged 64, asked for permission for a live round to be fired from the gun in the courtroom. Judge Paul Thomas refused the request.
Mr Kirk, of Marlpits, St Donats, has pleaded not guilty to possessing a prohibited weapon and not guilty of selling or transferring it.
It is alleged that Mr Kirk told the owner of a First World War fighter plane that the Lewis gun had been de-activated.
The prosecutor Richard Twomlow said it was still capable of firing the live ammunition.
The jury has heard that Mr Kirk, described in court as “eccentric” posted a video of himself holding the weapon on the internet.
There it was seen by the undercover police officer who contacted Mr Kirk using the name of ‘Foxy’.
When ‘Foxy’ gave evidence, he said he telephoned Kirk, indicating his interest in the weapon.
Mr Kirk told him “she’s no longer with me”. It is alleged that Mr Kirk indicated the gun had not been de-activated.
Detective Constable Stephen Reed-Parker said he accessed a website of Mr Kirk’s and located the pictures of him carrying the gun.
There was also reference on You-tube to Mr Kirk landing a plane within a prohibited area of President Bush’s ranch in Texas.
Mr Kirk said he indicated he had been detained in prison in Texas and was forced to take a flying test by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Andrew Huxtable, a firearms expert, said it was possible for one bullet at a time to be fired from the gun.
“In my opinion, this is a firearm. It is a prohibited weapon.” he said.
Richard Mabbitt, a proofmaster, with the Worshipful Company of Gun Makers, said he had been shown the weapon and found that it had not been de-activated.
“It was stripped down and it was capable of being fired. It could have discharged a lethal round.” he said. It was at this point that Mr Kirk asked that a live round be fired from the gun.
Earlier this week, 16 large black boxes of documents relating to the case were put in the dock alongside Mr Kirk.
The judge said he didn’t want any time wasted and said the issues were whether Mr Kirk was in possession of the gun, was it prohibited, and if it was, did he sell it without the permission of the Secretary of State.
At one point Mr Kirk said to the judge “You and I are getting bored stiff with this case. The quicker we can talk law the better.”
He also described the case as a “charade” and said that he had wrongly been classified as a terrorist.
The case continues.

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