Shot lover called out 'I'm dying', court told

Despite being blasted, Craig Freear escaped by climbing out of a bathroom window, then hiding underneath a car after a masked man burst into his home with a double-barrelled shotgun.

His boyfriend, Neville Corby, 42, was blasted in the neck and died at their house in Bradford last March.

Ernest Wright, also known as Les, aged 68, of Howarth Crescent, Bradford, denies murder. He also denies attempted murder of Mr Freear and possessing a shotgun with intent to murder.

A woman in the public gallery sobbed and was comforted by a friend as Newcastle Crown Court was shown gruesome photographs of the murder scene, including blood-splattered walls in the couple's home.

Mr Freear, 31, told the hearing he was stepping outside the front door heading for work when he was confronted by a man in a balaclava with a shotgun.

He moved back into the house and was followed in by the gunman – whom he said he recognised as the defendant despite the mask.

Mr Corby, who was still in bed, heard the commotion and headed down to the foot of the stairs, where Mr Freear was frozen in fear.

A shot was fired into the ceiling and the couple then ran upstairs.

Mr Freear headed for the bathroom, where he hid behind the door. As he listened with his head pressed to a glass panel in the door, he heard another shot.

"I heard Neville say as clear as anything 'Where are you Craig, I'm dying'.

"After that the bathroom door blew in and I got out (through the bathroom window]."

Mr Freear leapt to safety and it was only afterwards he realised he had been badly hurt himself.

The trial continues.