Teenager playing with gun killed friend

A teenager accidentally killed his friend while "playing around" with a loaded gun, the Old Bailey heard today.

Renelle Coke, 18, did not realise the gun could go off as he placed the weapon to 18-year-old Dean Davis's head, the court was told.

But a 9mm bullet caused severe brain damage and Dean died following the incident in July last year.

Coke, of Leytonstone, east London, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was remanded in custody for sentencing on May 5.

Jeremy Benson QC, prosecuting, said the semi-automatic was loaded with four bullets and had been produced by a third youth, aged 17.

Mr Benson said Coke "deliberately mucked around with the hammer mechanism and the gun went off.

"It was an accident and he did not pull the trigger. He claims he was unaware that by playing around with the hammer would activate the cartridge."

Judge Hubert Dunn was told the 17-year-old had been sentenced to a 12 months' detention and training order for firearms offences at a youth court.