Fatal robbery pair on CCTV

11:23am Wednesday 16th April 2008

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TWO robbers accused of the murder of a Sedgley father, who was brutally throttled to death, were caught on CCTV trying to sell his gold jewellery.

Andrew Owen, of Viewfield Crescent, regularly wore a heavy gold neck chain, a bracelet and a ring which were all taken in the attack as he was walking home from the Good Intent pub in the early hours of April 15 last year.

Wolverhampton based South African gang - two men, Jabu Mboane, Gabriel Bhengu both aged 26, and his girlfriend Kashia Allen are accused of the 42-year-old's murder.

The members of the jury sitting at Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how the group were driven to Sedgley before spotting Mr Owen walking home.

The two men followed him, as he was making a call on his mobile phone, after collecting a takeaway meal.

Reading a statement made by the two defendants, Mr Roger Smith QC prosecuting, said Mboane said Bhengu grabbed Mr Owen around the throat in a necklock.

The statement read: "The man saw him and he was trying to fight, Bhengu grabbed him on his throat. The man was hitting him in the face with his phone, then the man fell onto the floor.

"He was still alive. I just went into his pockets."

The jury was told following Mr Owen's killing, Bhengu and Mboane were caught on CCTV as they went into a pawnbrokers shop in Wolverhampton to sell the ring and chain. A mobile phone hanging around the neck of Bhengu is alleged to be the property of 41-year-old Neil Williams, who was killed in Telford ten days before Andrew.

The three defendants have pleaded not guilty to killing Mr Owen. Bhengu and Allen have further denied five charges of robbery while Mboane has denied four charges.

The trial continues.