FIRE officers who had been called to the scene of a burning car discovered a dead body dumped in the boot, a jury at Manchester Crown Court was told.

They were alerted after a motorist spotted the blazing vehicle which was parked in a quiet lane in Unsworth.

When officers arrived, the body of 31-year-old Stacey Lloyd, of Ripon Close, Whitefield, was found with a gunshot wound to the head.

Details of the gruesome find were revealed when statements from fire officers were read to the jury trying two men accused of murdering Mr Lloyd in January last year.

Graham Redford, aged 42, of Whittle Street, Walkden, is alleged to have planned and carried out the shooting with the help of 46-year-old Clive Heaton, of Belcroft Grove, Little Hulton.

The prosecution allege the victim was blasted to death at point blank range after going to an industrial unit to collect £6,000 from Redford which was owed to another man following a business deal.

Redford's wife, Sharon, aged 39, also of Whittle Street, pleads not guilty to a charge of perverting the course of Justice by allegedly trying to provide a false alibi for her husband during the murder inquiry.

The victim, who had an extensive criminal record and was known to associate with known criminals, was driven off in his own car after the murder and his body was then found in Griffe Lane, Unsworth, by fire officers.

The car was then transferred to a police station where it was cut open and the charred remains of a sleeping bag, together with some baby clothes were found near Mr Lloyd's body.

The trial is expected to last six weeks.

Proceeding