Shop assistant tells murder trial how man said he gave friend 'three deep jabs'

Elizabeth Reynolds, 43, worked at the "Drinkers Paradise" off-sales in Broxburn, West Lothian, and said Christopher Bouhadi, 25, was talking to her in her shop on 29 May last year.

Miss Reynolds told the High Court in Livingston that she had served Bouhadi and his friend Barry Fleming, then 28, a few times in the shop, and they "seemed nice boys", although she didn't know their names at the time.

She was giving evidence on the second day of the trial of Bouhadi, who denies murdering Mr Fleming, of Broxburn, in the town's Station Road, on 29 May last year.

Miss Reynolds said on the night of the murder she had seen Bouhadi swearing at Mr Fleming in the shop.

Later she said Bouhadi had come back to the shop. "He said 'he got three deep jabs', with a smirk on his face," she said.

"He showed me his hands and there was a little blood between his forefinger and thumb on his right hand."

Ian Duguid QC, defending, asked Miss Reynolds if Mr Fleming had said anything else to her.

She replied: "Barry said he'd served six years for armed robbery and didn't want to get into more trouble."

Mr Duguid finally asked: "It would seem ridiculous for someone to kill someone in broad daylight, would it not?"

She replied: "He done it".

In addition to pleading not guilty to murder, Bouhadi, formerly of Almondell Road, Broxburn, West Lothian, denies having an article, namely a knife in his possession, and attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of it within a refuse bin.

The trial before Lord Philip, and jury, continues.