Pair accused of plotting 'honey trap' murder

TWO Edinburgh men accused of a plotting a murder allegedly planned to lure their victim to his death by springing a "honey trap" with the help of a former prostitute.

Francis Doris, 40, and Martin Black, 33, are said to have amassed an array of weapons, including a Luger pistol and crossbow, and forensic suits and face masks.

They then plotted to murder Kevin Martin after sending the woman posing as an escort girl to persuade him to open his front door, according to charges laid against the two men at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The pair are also accused of driving around the Capital dressed in paper suits and gloves armed with loaded guns and knives, in a vehicle with false number plates. Former escort girl Claire Lizanec told the court yesterday that Doris showed her guns at a flat in the Colinton area and claimed he had been hired to kill Mr Martin.

"He said someone wanted to kill (Martin Black] and he was getting paid to kill them first," she said.

"I am sure he was getting paid ten grand, maybe," she added, saying the money was supposed to come from "a guy called Charlie".

The former heroin addict said there were guns in holdalls behind a couch and that Doris was taking "stuff" out and showing it to her.

Ms Lizanec, 28, said she was shown a gun she now knew was a Luger, a stun gun, bullets and "a pole looking thing" which was his "weapon of choice".

She said there were also balaclavas, gloves, forensic suits and a crossbow.

She said it was later suggested that "maybe I was to pose as an escort or whatever to get" a door opened, but she rejected that.

Ms Lizanec, a mother-of-two, said she had earlier met Doris who introduced her to Black on Leith Walk. She met up with them again at a pub and took cocaine before going to Black's flat.

Black and Doris deny plotting to murder Mr Martin and possession of a firearm on 6 July, 2008.

Doris also denies committing a breach of the peace on 4 July in 2008 by contacting Ms Lizanec and threatening to shoot and slash her and another woman, Connie Comrie.

The trial before temporary judge Norman Ritchie QC continues.