Moat ‘enjoyed barbecue after blinding Pc’

Hungry Moat wolfed down burgers and barbecued sausages the morning after shooting Pc David Rathband.

The groceries were bought on a supermarket shopping trip by two men alleged to have helped the 37-year-old during his week-long rampage in July.

Karl Ness and Qhuram Awan claim they were held hostage by the former bodybuilder, who later committed suicide, and were in fear for their lives.

But a prosecutor said the men’s willingness to run errands and eat with the killer revealed their true state of mind.

Ness, 26, told Newcastle Crown Court he had been so disturbed in the immediate aftermath of Moat’s shooting spree he had been left shaking and unable to drive. But he admitted to eating “a couple of burgers” barbecued at Moat’s woodland hideout just hours after Moat shot Pc David Rathband in the face.

Prosecutor Robert Smith QC said: “You knew Pc Rathband had been shot that morning. How was your appetite? How were you feeling at the time?”

“It wasn’t the greatest. I was scared,” Ness replied.

Mr Smith said: “But not too scared to eat your meal. You are a liar, Mr Ness, aren’t you?”“No,” Ness replied.

Ness is alleged to have been with Moat on the night he gunned down his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and her new partner Chris Brown while Awan, 23, is alleged to have helped the pair afterwards.

Ness denies murdering Chris Brown. Both defendants deny conspiracy to murder, the attempted murder of Pc Rathband, a firearms offence and robbery.

The trial continues.