MURDER accused thought they had been arrested by armed police for taking cannabis, a court heard.

Aston Hannis and Charlie Statham were arrested on July 14, 2019, in Rooks Down Road, Winchester, on suspicion of the murder of Gurinderjit Rai, 41, who was found dead in a Ford Fiesta in Shepherds Farm Lane in Corhampton, the previous day.

An armed police unit travelled to Winchester after Hannis had been spotted driving a black Audi Q7 around the city.

Winchester Crown Court was told that Statham was in the front passenger seat and was arrested at the same time.

PC Roy Darrington said: “I cautioned him (Statham) and he replied ‘f*****g hell what’s going on, murder, I’ve smoked some weed'.”

Statham was found to have cannabis hidden in his boxers, which he gave to officers and was found to be “consistent with personal use”.

The trial was also shown secret filming of Statham and Hannis in the back of a police van while being taken to magistrates court shortly after their arrest.

The jury heard the pair saying that they have never heard of Mr Rai and one of them saying police have got “absolutely nothing connecting me to anything”.

The defendants also question whether anyone else has been arrested in connection with the murder.

The two men say that they were together on Friday, July 12, hours before Mr Rai’s body was discovered and in the covert recording discuss watching a boxing match involving Hughie Fury.

Hannis, 29, of Leah Gardens, Eastleigh; Statham, 30, of Crescent Close, Oliver's Battery; Corin Barlow, 41, from Horley, Surrey; Paul White, 27, of Dyson Drive, Abbotts Barton, all deny murder.

Phillip Hodan, 43, of Longwood Dean Lane, Owslebury, denies participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group.

The trial continues.