Robbery 'villains may be missing'

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The possible "real villains" behind Britain's biggest cash robbery have not been asked to explain themselves in court, jurors have heard.

Seven men currently on trial at the Old Bailey deny charges in relation to the £53m Securitas cash depot raid in Tonbridge, Kent, in February last year.

Beginning his closing speech, defence barrister Graeme Wilson said jurors had not had access to the "key players".

"What's the point... if half the people are missing?" he said.

'Not a game'

Mr Wilson, representing defendant Lea Rusha, claimed the prosecution had "removed half the players" from the game of solving the case.

It had been decided to exclude some, others had gone abroad and a further number could not be found by police, he told the court on Wednesday.

"People who you might expect to be an important part of this game and who could be the real villains of the piece haven't been here for you to hear their explanations," he said.

"What's the point of playing the game at all if half the people are missing?"

'DVD and curry'

Mr Rusha, 35, a former roofer of Lambersart Close, Southborough, Tunbridge Wells, has told the jury that he was at home watching a DVD and having a curry on the night of the robbery.

The defendants include car salesman Stuart Royle, 49, of Allen Street, Maidstone, Kent; unemployed Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, of Hadlow Road, Tonbridge; and garage owner Roger Coutts, 30, of The Green, Welling, south-east London.

Also charged are Emir Hysenaj, 28, a Post Office worker of New Road, Crowborough, East Sussex; and car dealer John Fowler, 59, of Elderden Farm, Chart Hill Road, Staplehurst, Kent.

All six deny conspiracy to rob and conspiracy to kidnap the Dixon family, and conspiracy to possess firearms.

Signwriter Keith Borer, 54, of Hempstead Lane, Maidstone, Kent, denies handling stolen money.

The trial was adjourned until next week.