A MAN accused of killing his former boss and attempting to kill three other men subjected his victims to a “prolonged” and “terrifying” attack which lasted more than four hours, Newport crown court heard.

Russell Leon Carter, 52, of Penrhos Crescent, Rumney, Cardiff, denies murdering Driverline 247 director Kingsley Monk, 45 on October 20 last year.

He also denies the attempted murder his former colleagues Gethin Heal, Robert Lewis and Nathan Taylor.

David Aubrey QC, prosecuting, told the court how Carter, wearing surgical gloves, went to the Driverline premises in Pontypool armed with a hand gun, petrol, duct tape, cable ties, rope and syringes and waited for staff to arrive.

During the course of the four-hour ordeal Carter gagged the men and bound their hands and feet, beat them and threatened them with the handgun.

The court heard Carter was angry after his daughter heard an answer phone message from Mr Monk calling him a “spineless coward” when he failed to turn up for a driving job he was paid in advance for.

First to arrive at 8.50am was Gethin Heal.

Carter followed him upstairs to the office, pointed a gun at him and said: “Do as you’re told or I’ll kill you.”

Pointing the gun to his head, Carter tied cable ties around Mr Heal’s wrists and ankles and put duct tape over his month before shutting him in the toilet, the jury heard.

In a desperate attempt to raise the alarm Mr Heal dialled 999 on his mobile phone and, unable to speak, put it in his shirt pocket hoping responders would hear what was going on.

Carter heard the voice on the other end of the phone from the other room and disconnected the phone, threatening to kill Mr Heal if he tried to escape again, Mr Aubrey said.

Later at 9.10am Nathan Taylor and Robert Lewis arrived at Driverline together.

As they entered the offices Carter came at them holding a gun and threw petrol in their faces.

He then held a lit cigarette lighter and said he would burn them, the court heard.

Carter then gagged the men, tied their hands and feet with cable ties and made them lie on the floor while he took their mobile phones.

Mr Aubrey told the court how the men heard Mr Monk arrive in another room and heard Carter shouting that he was owed £3,000.

Next they heard a thud and groans.

Mr Lewis managed to break free from his restraints and tried to over power Carter but Carter hit him, stamped on his head and tied him up again. Demanding money Carter forced Nathan Taylor to transfer £2,500 into his bank account.

Determined to deflect attention from himself and cover his tracks, Mr Aubrey said, Carter instructed him to make a series of transactions to other drivers’ accounts totalling £7,500 before taking him back out of the room. Jury members heard how the men then heard a “disturbance” and sounds like metal hitting concrete and thought Carter must be hurting Mr Monk.

They heard groans and a muffled sound like someone struggling with a plastic bag and heard Mr Monk pleading “No, no.”

They heard a struggle, Mr Aubrey said, heavy breathing and a dozen deep breaths.

The jury were then told how Carter turned on Mr Lewis and put a plastic bag over his head but he was able to break free.

Carter then came at him with a heavy metal bar striking him in the head, knocking him unconscious.

Before leaving the building Carter spread floor varnish throughout the office and set it alight.

Mr Taylor and Mr Heal managed to free themselves and called 999 as the occupants of the unit next door came in to see what was happening.

Jury members heard Mr Monk was found dead on the floor with his tie tied tightly around throat.

He had been gagged with a latex glove.

Mr Aubrey told the court that after leaving the premises Carter disposed of some of his clothes and the gun, which has never been recovered by police.

He then went to Tesco in St Mellons and was captured on CCTV buying shoes, shirts, trousers, before returning home and taking the family shopping.

He said Carter made enquiries to a friends about how he could get a passport when he knew that police were looking for him and was later arrested at Newport Central Train station at around 8.40pm. Mr Aubrey said: “It was this defendant’s intention to destroy all traces that could identify him and to kill the men who knew him and knew his name and could identify him.

“Throughout this horrific attack Carter carried out his actions with cold and ruthless determination with no regret or concern for the four victims.”

Proceeding.