A FATHER who is alleged to have shot another dad tried to convince his son to take the blame, a court has heard.

Matthew Moseley, 50, allegedly shot Lee Holt outside his house in Barnard Close, Oswaldtwistle, on October 25.

The court heard how Moseley, who had a ‘keen interest in firearms’, had allegedly shot Mr Holt in the chest with a left-handed Beretta 12-gage semi automatic shotgun.

Robert O’Sullivan QC, prosecuting, said Moseley ‘s 14-year-old son, Thomas, had been asked to take the blame for the incident as he was a ‘minor’ and couldn’t be punished.

The court heard how Mr Holt along with family members attended Moseley’s house unarmed at around 8.25pm on October 25

The prosecution claims Moseley senior opened his front door and fired a single shot at Mr Holt, who later died in hospital from a wound to the chest.

Mr Sullivan said within a witness statement Thomas said he had been passed the gun by his dad after the shot had been fired and tried to unload three remaining bullets from within the shotgun.

Mr Sullivan said: “The prosecution say from that point onwards Matthew Moseley has falsely blamed his son Thomas for the shooting.

“It is the prosecution case that Matthew Moseley, from the outset, has sought to manipulate his son into accepting responsibility for the shooting and the death of Lee Holt.

“Thomas initially did just that, out of what you may think was loyalty and love for his father.

“Indeed he was arrested and interviewed by police on suspicion of the murder of Lee Holt, before the truth came out.”

Moseley denies a single count of murder.

More to follow.