TWO teenagers accused of throwing a marine flare into an Audi, which killed a dad inside, later tried to sell the car’s keys in exchange for drugs, a court has heard.

Vilson Meshi, 30, was found burnt to death in the back of his Audi A4 on February 26 last year in Pincey Mead, Pitsea.

Keani Hobbs, 18, of Stagden Cross, Pitsea, and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, deny manslaughter and stealing marine flares.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard that following the incident, Keani Hobbs and three boys - one of whom is understood to be the 16-year-old - visited Ceejay Henry, who was staying at his girlfriend’s home in Stagden Cross at the time.

The jury was told that the group had wanted to sell an Iphone and a set of Audi car keys in return for joints of cannabis.

Speaking in the trial as a witness, Mr Henry, who wore a blue jacket and jeans, told the court that he had decided not to take the phone and keys because the deal was “too good to be true”.

He said: “I had four people come to my house and offered me a phone and an Audi car key.

“I thought the deal was too good to be true to be fair.

“At the time, I thought that I might buy it, but when I realised that the deal was too good to be true, I didn’t want to have anything to do with it.

“They wanted about £40 in weed. It was definitely a desperate act.

“The car key had a bottom on it and the key came out - it was an Audi car key.

“I was very tempted.”

Mr Henry told the court that he “put two and two together” after he saw the back of the burnt-out Audi the next day.

He said that Keani’s mum Melanie had also paid him a visit.

He said: “She told me to keep my mouth shut. She didn’t say what she wanted me to keep my mouth shut about. They obviously believed I knew something.”

Charlie Sherrard QC, defending the 16-year-old boy, suggested that Henry had actually bought the phone and keys and Keani’s mum had actually visited him to take the goods back.

In response, Mr Henry said: “I am not aware of that.

“At the time, I was going to buy them and then I said ‘no I don’t want it’ and then they were gone.”

After he gave evidence, Judge Patricia Lynch QC told him to not discuss it with anyone and he replied: “I didn’t even want to be involved in all this to tell you the truth” and walked out.

The trial continues