THE jury in the trial of a man accused of Liverpool dad Wayne Bassnett’s murder were shown CCTV of the victim allegedly “testing” a pistol just days before his death.

Michael Eves, 25, who was living in Speke at the time of the murder, is accused of shooting 30-year-old Wayne Bassnett, originally from Belle Vale, in Hale Village, just after midnight on December 22, 2010.

The prosecution in the Chester Crown Court trial alleges the dad-of-three’s death came after months of increasing tensions between the two.

Footage from  CCTV at Mr Bassnett’s Widnes home on December 17, five days before his murder, showed him and a friend handling what is believed to be a firearm.

Detective Constable Stephen Marsland told the court the actions of the pet dog shown on the footage suggested the pistol had been used for a “test firing”.

The video evidence showed Mr Bassnett and a man named as Peter McGuinness, who is believed to have owned the house where Mr Bassnett lived.

Det Con Marsland said: “They are in possession of what appears to be a firearm, a semi-automatic pistol.”

Mr Bassnett is seen coming down the stairs in his hallway and handing the “gun” to his friend, who passes it back to him.

Cameras outside the property then show the pair leaving through the front door and heading towards the garage and garden.

After a short time, the dog is seen running into the house.