A DRUG dealer who denies gunning a woman down in a back garden over a violent feud was accused of lying to the jury about his whereabouts.

Billy Johnson told a jury of seven women and five men at Oxford Crown Court he was out in Abingdon dealing heroin the night Kerry Reeves was shot in the face at close range with a sawn-off shotgun.

But prosecuting barrister Mark Fenhalls QC said Johnson was lying and had been in Brampton Close near to where the shooting happened.

Miss Reeves was shot in the gardens behind Thornhill Walk at about 8pm on Tuesday, November 3, and died in hospital two days later.

Drug dealers Johnson, 20, and his childhood friend Charles Noble, 21, both deny murdering the 26-year-old.

Mr Fenhalls said: "Mr Johnson, in your life as a drug dealer you had trouble with these people and you had armed yourself hadn't you?

"When the moment came you were willing and able, and did use that weapon.

"You shot Kerry Reeves in the face from a distance of about six feet and then you made good your escape and you have lied repeatedly to this jury."

Johnson denied having a gun and shooting Miss Reeves and told the court he thought her death was "shocking" and "messed up" when he heard the news.

She and friend Craig Pitts had been armed with baseball bats and out looking for the two heroin dealers on the night she was shot.

Johnson said he had been in Albert Park and was making his way to Brampton Close before Miss Reeves was shot to make a drug deal, but did not go after being warned there were people in the area with baseball bats.

But Mr Fenhalls said a mobile phone mast showed Johnson had made calls and texts in the area near the shooting scene.

The jury was shown CCTV footage of what the prosecution say was Johnson travelling from Berry Croft Road, down Larkhill Road and Faringdon Road before entering Bath Street moments after the shooting.

Johnson denied the person caught on the cameras was him, but did identify himself walking in Bath Road shortly after 8.30pm.

The trial continues.