The pilot of the gyrocopter that killed Warwickshire hunt supporter Trevor Morse is giving evidence in court today (Monday 8 March).

Bryan Griffiths, 55, of Bedworth, Warwickshire, is charged with the manslaughter by gross negligence of Morse, 48, at Long Marsdon airfield on 9 March 2009.

The case began at Birmingham Crown Court last Monday, 1 March.

Opening the trial for the prosecution, Gareth Evans QC said on Tuesday: “[Griffiths] deliberately drove the gyrocopter at Trevor Morse with the rear propellor at a speed of 200mph.”

Morse was killed instantly.

In evidence last week, fellow “aviation fanatic” Michael Tipping told the court Bryan Griffiths feared he could be attacked by the hunt.

Mr Tipping was at Long Marsdon airfield at the time of the incident. He told the court Griffiths believed he had been shot at during the day on which he had been following the Warwickshire hunt.

Tipping told the court: “[Griffiths] said I think [Mr Morse] is trying to hold me up, because I know there’s a gang coming for me to beat me up.

“He said that he believed he had been shot at three times while he was flying the autogyro.”

Bryan Griffiths is expected to give evidence over the next three days, and the case is expected to last at least another week.

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Bryan Griffiths, the man accused of murdering hunt supporter Trevor Morse, has been remanded on bail.

Griffiths, 54, of Bedworth, Warwickshire, appeared at Warwick Crown Court yesterday (27 May) charged with killing Trevor Morse of the Warwickshire hunt.

Mr Morse was hit by the propeller of Griffiths’s gyrocopter at Long Marston Airfield in Warwickshire on 9 March.

Griffiths did not enter a plea yesterday, and was remanded on bail to appear at a court and on a date to be arranged.

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Police have been advised to stop monitoring hunts in guidelines drawn up by ACPO.

The new guidelines by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) recognise that the “gathering of evidence of offending behaviour has proved a difficult task for the police, and with available resources it is likely to remain so”.

Instead, police are advised to rely upon initial evidence “gathered by members of the public who are often organised for this purpose”.

ACPO spokesman on rural affairs, Richard Brunstrom, also chief constable of North Wales said in an interview with The Times: “If you look at hunting, the penalties do not include a prison sentence for offenders. This puts the Hunting Act to the lower rather than the higher end of offences….hunting is definitely not a policing priority.”

Although the ACPO guidelines state police will accept and deal with evidence of “any criminal offence”, it warns forces to be “very cautious in forming informal partnerships with any organisation unless satisfied that those who purport to or do act on their behalf can distance themselves from any broader objectives their organisation might have to strengthen, extend or repeal legislation”.

Countryside Alliance chief executive Simon Hart warned that while policing the Hunting Act is not a priority, the policing of animal rights extremism should be.

“We are concerned by campaigns of violence and harassment by hunting rights activists in a few areas of the countryside,” said Simon. “An anti-hunting activist is awaiting trial for the murder of a hunt supporter last March and the next hunting season could see increased extremism.”

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A memorial fund has been set up for Trevor Morse, the Warwickshire hunt supporter killed in an incident involving a gyrocopter.

The hunt said in a statement: “On Monday 9 March 2009, on the last day of the season, the Warwickshire hunt was deprived of one of its truest and most loyal subscribers.”

A fund, set up in Trevor’s memory, will provide financial assistance to the Morse family, to help them meet expenses associated with his death, and the ensuing legal process.

The Warwickshire hunt said the fund will also be used support projects which will reflect Trevor’s love of hunting and the countryside, and his passion for the Warwickshire hounds.

The fund is launched on the same day that an inquest is to be opened into Trevor Morse’s death.

The hearing will start at the Town Hall in Leamington at 11am today, and will be immediately adjourned.

Gyrocopter pilot Bryan Griffith, 54, from Wiltshire Close, Alderminster, has been charged with murder following the incident at Long Marston airfield on Monday 9 March in which Trevor Morse was fatally injured.

A second man has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Anti-hunting groups such as the League Against Cruel Sports have so far distanced themselves from the incident.

If you wish to make a donation, send a cheque made out to the Trevor Morse Memorial Fund to Warwickshire Hunt, Broughton Grange, Wykham Lane, Broughton, Banbury OX15 5DS.

Alternatively, donations can be made online at www.thetrevormorsememorialfund.co.uk

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A man accused of murdering Warwickshire hunt supporter Trevor Morse has today been remanded in custody.

Bryan Griffith, 54, from Bedworth, north Warwick, made no application for bail during a four-minute preliminary hearing at Warwick Crown Court. He was ordered to reappear for a plea hearing on 27 May.

A second man arrested on suspicion of murder following Trevor’s death was released on police bail on Thursday 12 March.

A police spokesman has today told H&H that “investigations were still ongoing”.

Warwickshire hunt supporter Trevor Morse died as a result of severe head injuries after an incident at Long Marston Airfield on Monday 9 March.

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The moment that hunt supporter Trevor Morse was hit by the blade of a gyrocopter at Long Marston airfield was caught on film, a court was told today.

Bryan Griffiths, aged 54, of Bedworth, North Warwickshire, appeared at Nuneaton Magistrates Court today (12 March), charged with the murder of 48-year-old Mr Morse.

Mr Morse was hit by the light aircraft on Monday afternoon as he was following the Warwickshire hunt.

The court heard that an witness filmed the incident and the moments running up to it.

Mr Griffiths, a heating technician, was a member of an anti-hunt group and a volunteer hunt monitor.

He was remanded in custody to appear at Warwick Crown Court on 23 March.

A second man was arrested on suspicion of murder but has been released by police on bail.

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A man has been charged with murder following the death of Warwickshire hunt follower Trevor Morse at a West Midlands airfield on Monday.

The un-named man will appear before Nuneaton magistrates today, Thursday March 12, charged with murdering 48-year-old Mr Morse.

Mr Morse died at Long Marston Airfield near Stratford-upon-Avon on Monday following a collision with the small helicopter (pictured right).

Two men were arrested at the scene and were held in custody at Leamington Spa police station for two days.

One man was charged with murder last night.

The second man was released on police bail pending further inquiries.

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