A jury was sent out to consider its verdict today in the trial of an alleged gunman accused of executing a man by blasting him in the neck and seriously injuring his boyfriend.

Neville Corby, 42, was killed at the home he shared with Craig Freear, 31, who survived being shot after jumping out of the bathroom window in March last year.

Ernest Wright, 68, of Howarth Crescent, Bradford, denies murder.

Newcastle Crown Court heard a masked man burst into the couple's home in Ashbourne Road, Bradford, armed with a double-barrelled shotgun.

Mr Corby was blasted at short range and called out to his lover: "Where are you Craig, I'm dying."

Mr Freear was hiding behind the bathroom door at the time, and a shot fired through it hit him in the chest.

He climbed to safety through the upstairs bathroom window and hid under a neighbour's car.

The survivor told the court he knew the gunman was Wright - despite his mask - because he recognised his eyes.

Mr Freear told the court he used to look after his disabled mother's finances but Wright, who lived upstairs from her, tried to turn her against him.

That led to a series of disputes in the days before the shootings, including a car chase and minor collision in Shipley.

After the shootings Wright went on the run for 30 days, at one time hiding in the property next door but one to his home.

He said he was out of prison on licence at the time and feared he would be returned to jail if he was arrested.

The jury was not told the nature of Wright's offence which led him to be jailed, then released on licence.