THE killing of a police officer from Bolton more than 12 years ago by a gang of 'laughing assassins' was described to a jury on Thursday.

The gang gunned down 44-year-old PC Patrick Dunne seconds after shooting dead a nightclub bouncer in Clapham, south-east London, London's Woolwich Crown Court heard.

PC Dunne, who was investigating a domestic dispute when he heard shots nearby, did not stand a chance, the jury was told.

No sooner had the former Bolton maths teacher gone to investigate than he was struck in the chest by at least one bullet.

The unmarried bike-riding beat officer, described at the time as a real-life Dixon of Dock Green, died instantly.

PC Dunne had moved to London to become an officer with The Met after quitting his job as head of maths at The Deane School.

The court heard how the killers' reaction to the double slaying was to burst out laughing as they fled the scene.

In the dock is Gary Nelson, who is alleged to have used an Italian Tanfoglio 9mm handgun to fire the fatal shot that ended PC Dunne's fledgling police career.

Nelson, aged 36, denies murdering the constable and club doorman William Danso, aged 31, on October 20, 1993.

Richard Horwell, prosecuting, said a wealth of evidence put Nelson at the scene, including a trio of alleged confessions to the officer's death - two to police and the other to a thief he was sharing a cell with.

The five-woman, seven-man jury was told that a history of bad blood between father-of-four Danso and the defendant led to the killing.

Mr Horwell claimed that powerfully-built Nelson - nicknamed Tyson because of his likeness to the boxer - felt the bouncer had "disrespected" him by refusing to let him into a Brixton nightclub.

The barrister said that on the night of the murders the doorman's neighbour heard shots followed by screaming.

Six bullet wounds were later found on Danso's body.

The firing was also heard by PC Dunne, who had cycled to a house opposite to investigate a dispute.

He emerged from the premises just as Danso's killers spilled on to the pavement on the other side of the road.

The barrister told jurors the killer fired one or two shots into the officer's chest.

"It was such a casual act to which the gunmen responded by laughing as they made good their escape," he said.

Five weeks later Nelson was arrested for the murders, although the charges were later dropped because of insufficient evidence.

Shortly after he had been taken into custody he was taped telling a custody sergeant he would "cop it" like the other one.

The following morning, he allegedly threatened two other officers saying: "I will take one of you out again."

Some time later, claimed counsel, the defendant allegedly told another prisoner: "I shot the copper, the one on the bike."

Mr Horwell added that a witness claimed to have seen a car near the scene of the shooting with a number plate similar to Nelson's.

In addition, firearms discharge residue, similar to that found at the scene of the murders, was discovered on several items of Nelson's clothing.

The guns used to murder the two men were another pointer, the barrister said.

They were found, along with more than 40 rounds of ammunition, some months after the killings buried in a cemetery not far from where Nelson then lived. A fingerprint belonging to Nelson's mother was found on a carrier bag used to wrap one of the guns.

In addition, the jury would hear of the link between the defendant and an illegal gun dealer, Mr Horwell said.

The trial was adjourned until Monday afternoon.