ONE of the men accused of murdering a man in a Southampton flat was pulled over by police days before the shooting took place, a court heard.

Chief inspector Michael Buckle spotted a car driven by Pierre Lewis speeding and running a red light in Maybray King Way, Bitterne, in the early hours of April 3.

He told Winchester Crown Court how he followed the car to the BP garage on Bitterne Road.

Jurors heard how Insp Buckle approached the car and spoke to Lewis, who was sitting in the driver's seat.

Insp Buckle said a female - Rachel Kenehan - was in the passenger seat while another man was in the back of the car.

Insp Buckle said Kenehan advised him Lewis only had a provisional licence and "did most of the talking".

He said Kenehan told him that they had driven from an address locally and were looking for somewhere to get something to eat.

Insp Buckle added Lewis acknowledged he was driving too fast and both apologised for the lack of L plates on the car.

He told the court Kenehan suggested he could search the boot of the car and even opened it for him.

Insp Buckle said they were given a warning and Kenehan and Lewis swapped places in the car.

He said: "She stated he would not be driving and got into the driver's seat.

"I followed the road from Bitterne Road and lost sight of them at Harbour Parade."

Lewis, 20, of Castlenau, Barnes, London, denies murdering Jahmel Jones on April 20 last year along with Jemmikai Orlebar-Forbes , of Cloudsdale Road, London, and Isaac Boateng, of Mill Farm Crescent, Hounslow, London.

They have all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Kenehan, of Hewlett Road, London, denies conspiracy to supply Class A drugs, assisting an offender, and perverting the course of justice.

PC Dave King, neighbourhood beat officer for the St Mary's area of the city, told the court he detained Boateng on two occasions - once on March 28 and a following occasion on April 18.

He was detained and searched after PC King came across him in an underpass in the Kingsland area.

PC King the arrested him on suspicion of drug offences after spotting Boateng while in a parked police car at the junction of Clifford Street, St Mary's.

He told the court he immediately recognised it was Boateng.