Bradley Blundell, 18, blasted John Pordage, 34, in the chest at a BP garage in Chelmsford, Essex, and was then smuggled to the continent in the boot of a car.
Blundell, together with 18-year-old Ella Colgate and two others who cannot be named, had picked up a stolen motorcycle and stopped at the garage to get petrol.
While filing up a can, Colegate was approached by Mr Pordage and his friend Jamal Samuels.
Tracy Ayling QC, prosecuting, said one of the men shouted “nice bum” as they went to buy cigarettes.
Blundell, who was described by the other men as looking like “the Milky Bar Kid”, pulled out a.32 calibre revolver and shot Mr Pordage in the chest.
He was today jailed for 22 years.
NICE BUM
Ms Ayling said: “The reason for the shooting appears to be nothing more than either Mr Pordage or a friend he was with, Jamal Samuels, remarking that Ella Colegate, the driver of the car Mr Blundell was in, had a nice bum.”
Blundell, who was 17 at the time, was convicted of murder and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice after a three-week trial.
Colgate, a care worker, denied conspiracy to pervert the course of justice by contacting a prosecution witness but was also convicted.
Members of public shouted “Justice” as the verdicts were returned.
During the dispute on the forecourt the men also told Mr Blundell he looked like the “Milky Bar Kid” – a cowboy character with glasses who was used to advertise chocolate bars.
MILKY BAR KID
Ms Ayling added: “One of the men made some reference to Mr Blundell looking like the Milky Bar Kid and it may well be that it is that remark which was the catalyst for what was to follow.
“Mr Blundell's anger spilled over.”
A teenage girl, who cannot be named, who was in the blue Ford Fiesta at the time of the shooting, was interviewed by police on August 5.
She explained there was “banter” from the men in Mr Pordage's white van on the forecourt and that they were trying to “chat her and Ella up”.
One of the men made some reference to Mr Blundell looking like the Milky Bar Kid
The girl said Blundell “did not like this”.
She said one of the two men, either Mr Pordage or Mr Samuels, tapped on the window of the Fiesta and said: “You're a bit quiet boys, do you want a Milky Bar?”
Blundell travelled to France, Germany and Holland before handing himself in to police in Amsterdam on 31 March this year.
Giving evidence Blundell admitted hitting Mr Pordage with a cosh but claimed his friend, who cannot be named, fired the fatal shot.
He said he did not see the gun and only heard the shots but admitted fleeing the country because he was “terrified”.
Colgate denied she was ever in a relationship with Blundell but said they had been good friends since they were at school.
Blundell, of Boreham, Essex, was jailed for 22 years for murder at Chelmsford Crown Court and another six years to be served concurrently for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Colgate, of Chelmsford, was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and was jailed for 12 months.
Source: Read Full Article
