THE MOTHER of one of the men charged with the murder of Sussex footballer Leigh Shaw has been named in court as the person who threatened a witness to the attack.

Mrs Susan Veal, the mother of accused Colin Stacey, is alleged to have threatened witness Tracey Burt, 22, who spent most of yesterday giving evidence at Lewes Crown Court.

At one point Tracey broke down in tears and the trial had to be adjourned for a while after she had explained why she had changed her evidence.

Colin Stacey, 30, of Plaistow Close, and Ryan Bish, 23, of Limney Road, both deny murdering Leigh Shaw on the Whitehawk estate on October 30, 1997.

Tracey Burt, who was 20 at the time, witnessed Leigh Shaw being stamped on between 15 to 20 times from her bedroom window.

She made four statements to the police about what she saw.

In the first two statements she said that Ryan Bish was standing by a wall while Stacey did the stamping.

She later took part in an identification parade and picked out Bish as the man who had done the stamping.

During cross examination by Mr Rock Tansey QC, representing Stacey, she was accused of "lying when she made her first two statements implicating Stacey".

Questioned by Mr Camden Pratt QC about why she picked out Bish and then changed her statement to implicate him, she replied "I was frightened".

Mr Pratt said: "Do you want to tell us who you were frightened of? She replied "No".

Miss Heather Hallett, prosecuting, then asked: "Someone has persuaded you to change your evidence?"

Miss Burt replied: "I do not want to say".

Miss Hallett then asked who told her to change her evidence.

Miss Burt wrote down the name of the person. It was shown to the judge, Mr Justice Penry-Davy, who ordered the court to go into chambers.

When the court reconvened Miss Hallett asked again who she was frightened of and who had asked her to change her evidence.

Miss Burt replied: "Susan Veal, mother of Colin Stacey. She told me to change my evidence or watch my back. I was frightened for my three children."

She then said that Bish was the man standing against the wall during the attack, and the man she now knew as Colin Stacey was the one she had seen do the stamping.

The court heard that Colin Stacey, Leigh Shaw and Ryan Bish, all left the Valley Social Club, in Whitehawk Way, together.

Leigh Shaw and Stacey had been arguing about football with Mr Shaw standing up for his team, West Ham.

Stacey had criticised him for not supporting Brighton and Hove Albion.

The trial continues.

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