Four witnesses who live on Glebe Estate, Tilney All Saints appear at King's Lynn trial of Lawrence Manning Snr and Jnr

Witnesses described threats to kill, the throwing of petrol bombs and “flaming” vehicles as the investigation into a family feud continued.

The trial of Lawrence David Manning, 48, of Seadyke Bank in Wisbech, and his son Lawrence Manning, 25, of Garden Lane, Wisbech continued yesterday (Monday).

It relates to an incident in Tilney All Saints on August 16 which involved a HGV being driven into a Glebe Estate property, a man being hospitalised with injuries and “fire bombs” being thrown.

Manning Snr has pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, having an offensive weapon, dangerous driving and damaging property while being reckless as to whether life is endangered.

Manning Jnr has pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent and damaging property being reckless as to whether life is endangered.

Five witnesses appeared at Lynn Crown Court yesterday - four of whom live at Glebe Estate.

One woman said she had got back from work at around 7pm on the day of the incident, which began around an hour later.

She noted that it was “strange” to see so many people gathered around number 32 - the property allegedly damaged by the truck driven by Manning Snr and Jnr.

The witness added that “people very rarely sit in the front gardens” on the street.

She then described a female at the scene who she witnessed on the phone, telling somebody: “I know people that can find you, they will find you and kill you”.

There were also three men “swaggering” around the street in the build-up to the incident, according to the witness.

Her description of the trio -two men in their late 40s or early 50s and a younger male in his mid-20s or early 30s - was backed up by three fellow residents who testified yesterday.

The witness then heard a “rumble” which she likened to the sound of thunder.

This was followed by her account of the truck being driven into the property. She did not see it happen the first time.

Later, she expanded on her version of events which saw a series of petrol bombs thrown in and around the truck. She said one was thrown through a door on its driver’s side before it “erupted in flames”.

The witness also said she spotted a number of people at the scene with weapons, including an axe and poles.

Earlier in proceedings, two additional witnesses had described the ordeal as they saw it unfold from their own house on Glebe Estate.

Those witnesses, a husband and wife, said the latter was alerted to the incident by her partner’s shouts of a fight in the street. The woman gave the best description she could of “two, maybe three” men she could see while a “flaming” vehicle moving towards her. She said they were of slim-to-average build, and that she was unable to discern their ethnicity - but that they definitely were not black or Asian.

The husband said he had been in a bedroom trying to settle the pair’s baby son when the ordeal began.

He heard shouting, the screeching of tyres and “loud bangs” from the street, and witnessed a black Vauxhall car leaving the street “at speed”.

He also witnessed the truck in flames as it was driven away from number 32 and in the direction of his own property.

One further witness changed his version of events which he submitted to police following the incident.

The man originally told officers on August 17 that he witnessed a petrol bomb being thrown through the passenger door of the truck which was driven into the property.

However, he altered this when probed by defence solicitors representing Manning Snr and Jnr yesterday - and said it was in fact, the driver’s door.

On those bombs being thrown, the witness said: “It took me by surprise. Until they hit the ground I didn’t really notice them, no.”

On an alleged fight between Manning Jnr and Sean Manning, who appeared as a witness last week, the witness added the latter was “cowering” on the ground.

He said he was surprised Sean Manning was able to walk from the scene due to “the way he had been hit” during the
ordeal.

The jury was also introduced to a further witness, the police officer in charge of the case. They were also shown CCTV footage of the entire incident from August 16 up until emergency services arrived at the scene.

The trial continues.