EMMANUEL: GUNMAN CAUGHT DUMPING LOADED PISTOL FACING LENGTHY JAIL TERM

A gunman who was spotted by police hiding a pistol under a parked car moments after a shooting is facing a minimum five-year jail term.

Cameron Emmanuel, 24, ran from officers who asked to speak to him after dumping the loaded semi-automatic 9mm handgun.

A magazine found in the weapon contained five live rounds of ammunition there was a further cartridge ready to the fired in the chamber and the safety catch was off.

Emmanuel claimed he found the weapon after two shots rang out in Clapham, southwest London.

But jurors at Inner London Crown Court rejected his claims and he was convicted of four firearms charges following a trial.

Emmanuel now faces a mandatory minimum five-year term for possession of an illegal weapon, under the terms of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

He will be sentenced on August 26.

During the trial prosecutor Kate Bex said two shots were fired shortly after 10pm on March 2 in Nelsons Row, near the junction with Clapham High Street, south London.

She said: ‘At about 10.20pm, six police officers were in a marked police car, driving down St Luke’s Avenue near Lenwyn Road, when they saw Mr Emmanuel place a bag under a vehicle.

‘He was asked to stop, but ran from them until he was caught by police after a short chase.

‘Police went back to where they had seen Mr Emmanuel discard something, and recovered a small, pouch-like bag from under a parked car.

‘Inside the bag was a Walther P38 9mm self-loading pistol, with five live rounds in the magazine and one live cartridge loaded into the breech.

‘The pump was pulled back, ready to fire, and the safety off.’

Forensic investigators recovered two spent cartridges from Nelson’s Row, which were later confirmed to have been fired from the same gun.

In police interview Emmanuel initially claimed he had never touched the gun, which he said was dropped by a passer-by.

Ms Bex said: ‘He said he was just walking home when he saw another black male walk towards him and threw a bag under the car, and that he had bent down to have a look at it to see what it was.’

But following the disclosure of forensic evidence which linked him to the weapon he was forced to serve a statement saying he had touched the gun.

When he was searched Emmanuel was found to have three mobile phones, and a single right-handed glove, on which tiny particles of gunshot residue were found.

A further 11 particles of residue were found on his clothing.

He had £30 in his wallet, but he had also secreted £200 in his right trainer and a further £200 in his left trainer.

Jobless Emmanuel told police he kept his money in ‘different places in case he lost it’. He claimed the money was his savings.

Emmanuel, of (22) Chorley Close, Fairwater, Cardiff, was found guilty of possessing a gun with intent to endanger life; possession of a prohibited firearm; purchasing ammunition with intent to endanger life and purchasing ammunition without a firearms certificate.

He was remanded in custody to be sentenced next month.

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