THREE weeks before a drug dealer was gunned down in Cornwall one of his alleged murderers said he would get a gun and shoot him, it has been claimed.

The evidence came from the girlfriend of Huddersfield man Thomas Haigh who told a court that Haighs alleged accomplice, Ross Stone, had made the threats.

Haigh, 28, from Denby Dale, and 26-year-old Stone are alleged to have killed David Griffiths and Liverpool gangster Brett Flournoy.

The mens burned bodies were found buried in a pit on a remote Cornwall farm last year.

Truro Crown Court heard that in June last year Griffiths, 35, from Plymouth, was shot dead with fellow drug gang member Flournoy, 31, from Merseyside, at Sunny Corner, a small holding where Stone lives at Trenance Downs, near St Austell.

Haigh and Stone, 26, are jointly charged with the double murder on June 16 and deny the allegations.

Truro Crown Court has already heard prosecutors argue Griffiths and Flournoy were pressurising Haigh to make a second drugs run to Brazil to smuggle narcotics into the UK and were threatening Stone over an unpaid s30,000 drugs debt.

It is claimed Flournoy sent Haigh to keep an eye on Stone, at Sunny Corner where he lived and the pair became friends.

According to prosecutors Haigh and Stone decided to kill Flournoy and Griffiths with a shotgun.

Stone admits burning the two bodies in Flournoys van before burying the lot in a pit at Sunny Corner.

Yesterday Haighs ex-girlfriend and mother of his son, Roisin Doherty gave evidence via a video link from Cumbria.

She said in a telephone conversation with Haigh three weeks before the men were murdered he told her that Stone had told him: I hate Dave (Griffiths). I am going to get a gun and shoot him.

Ms Doherty said in early 2011 Flournoy arrived at her home looking for Haigh who owed him money and when she told him she did not know where he was he threatened her.

She said: He said he knew I had a child in the house and although he didnt have to do it, Toms house would go up in flames and so would mine.

She said in the months following the incident Haigh sorted his money problems out with Flournoy and they became friends.

Ms Doherty said Flournoy later apologised to her and said he would not have carried out his threats.

Ms Doherty said: Tom looked up to Brett because he was just that bit older. They became quite close. The money issue was resolved and they were getting on fine.

Under cross-examination from Geoffrey Mercer, QC, representing Stone, Ms Doherty said since Haighs arrest she had seen him four or five times.

Mr Mercer asked why she had not mentioned in her first police interview in July Haighs comments about Stone wanting to shoot Mr Griffiths, but had in a second statement taken in October.

Ms Doherty said there had been a lot going on at the time and had forgotten to mention it in her first statement.

The trial continues.