JURORS have watched a murder victim arrive in the area at the same time as the gang accused of carrying out the execution-style killing were luring him to his death.

Hemwand Ali Hussain was seen picking up one of the alleged gang – Noza Saffari – just minutes before he was shot in the back of head with a sawn-off shotgun.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 30-year-old believed he was checking out a proposed site for a cannabis farm but instead he was shot dead within minutes of arriving in Charterhouse Street.

Forensic analysis of CCTV and mobile phone records were used to identify six men the prosecution say were involved in the gangland-style slaying on September 14, 2019.

Anxelo Xhaferi, Noza Saffari, Dorian Pirija and Qazim Marku were charged with his murder although detectives have identified a number of other people they believe were involved in the murder.

Within minutes of Mr Hussain being fatally shot Marku and Saffari were caught on CCTV, with three alleged accomplices, running away from the scene and jumping into a Hyundai Santa Fe, which was later found burnt out in North Yorkshire.

Mr Hussain's white Toyota Hilux was discovered at the scene of the alleged murder when the alarm was raised.

Xhaferi, 24, of Acton Street, Middlesbrough; Saffari, 39, of Park Lane, Middlesbrough; 33-year-old Pirija, of Trillo Avenue, Bolton; and Qazim Marku, 24, of West Drayton, all deny murder.

The trial continues.