A JUDGE has asked the Crown Prosecution Service to review the charges faced by the person accused of killing Coventry man Addison Packeer by shooting him in the head.
Jordan Bassett appeared at Warwick Crown Court after being charged with the manslaughter of 27-year-old Mr Packeer during an incident on December 7.
He died after suffering a gunshot wound to the head at an address in Chepstow Close, Willenhall, Coventry.
Bassett (25) of Tintagel Close, Coventry, also faces a further charge of possessing a firearm, a Luger semi-automatic pistol, with intent to endanger life.
A plea and trial preparation hearing earlier this month had to be adjourned after Bassett was not transported to the court from the prison at which he was on remand.
And at the rescheduled hearing, Judge Andrew Lockhart QC said: “I am going to send this case back for review by a chief Crown prosecutor before any arraignment takes place.”
He told prosecutor Peter Grieves-Smith that he wanted ‘a full explanation as to the basis of the manslaughter charge, whether it be by way of gross negligence or by unlawful act.’
The judge outlined the various stages from loading the pistol’s magazine, inserting it, cocking the pistol, removing the safety catch and pulling the trigger.
And he commented: “I have absolutely no idea how the case is put, what is said to constitute the unlawful act, or whether it’s gross negligence manslaughter.”
Judge Lockhart directed: “The prosecution are to review the case and set out in a detailed case summary how the case is to be put, and the charges.”
He adjourned the case until February 15 for that to take place, and Bassett was remanded in custody until then.
