A MAN accused of conspiring to kill mum of five Pennie Davis had an "angry" temper and would "snap" on occasions, a court heard.

Richard Stevens told Winchester Crown Court that his friend Ben Carr would get angry and had once threatened to "rip off" the face of somebody who had bumped into him in the street.

Mr Stevens admitted he had become "weary" of Carr and added: "On quite a few occasions his fists were clenched."

When asked if he ever got the impression that Carr was someone who was scared of other people, Mr Stevens said "no".

He also told jurors that Carr visited him a couple of days after the defendant was released on bail in connection with the supermarket workers death, near Beaulieu.

He told the court Carr had asked him to tell officers that he had given Carr counterfeit money for a fancy dress party.

As previously reported, Carr is charged with conspiracy to kill Pennie, who was an ex-partner of his dad, Timothy.

The prosecution claim he offered Justin Robertson £1,500 to murder her - a sum, which was later found in Carr's house during a police search, in counterfeit notes.

Mr Stevens told jurors he refused to lie to police because he had four children and a disabled girlfriend to look after.

He added that Carr had in fact tried to pay him with counterfeit notes before the murder on September 2, last year, when Carr agreed to buy Mr Stevens' car.

When asked by Carr's barrister James Scobie QC, if he had in fact given Carr the counterfeit money, Mr Richards strongly disagreed.

He said: "He asked if I would be his alibi for the counterfeit money."

Robertson, 36, is charged with murder and conspiracy to murder. Carr, 22, and Samantha Maclean, 28, are charged with conspiracy to murder.

They all deny the charges.

Proceeding.