Bradford man cleared of attempted murder after resident shot in home invasion

Wednesday, 30 October 2019 10:32

A man has been cleared of attempted murder and possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life.

William Lowther, 47, of Copgrove Road, Holme Wood, Bradford, has been cleared by a jury at Bradford Crown Court today.

Earlier, the trial had been told that a man was shot at point-blank range in his bed after three men smashed their way into his Bradford home with firearms and an axe.

Prosecutor Simon Myerson QC explained that Kevin Ruding almost died when he was wounded in the chest and the leg by the masked intruders in the early hours of January 30.

Mr Myerson told Bradford Crown Court that Mr Ruding sustained a gunshot wound to his chest that nearly killed him, and the lower part of his left leg had to be amputated when he was shot in the calf.

It was the prosecution's case that Mr Lowther was among three men who broke into Mr Ruding’s home and attacked him, however the jury found the defendant to be not guilty.

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