THE KEY witness in a contract killing case was sent erotic pictures by a woman who has been accused of setting up the hit, a court heard. Peter Austin said his brother David admitted driving gunman Douglas Johnson to gun down Charles Butler in a prison c

THE KEY witness in a contract killing case was sent erotic pictures by a woman who has been accused of setting up the hit, a court heard.

Peter Austin said his brother David admitted driving gunman Douglas Johnson to gun down Charles Butler in a prison confession.

The court has heard Mr Butler was shot on the orders of his wife Yvonne and his stepdaughter Marcia.

Mr Austin told the Old Bailey 18 months before the killing Marcia had asked him if he knew anyone who could kill the 50-year-old.

But Austin admitted that the stepdaughter sent him intimate pictures of herself in sexual poses.

"It was texts, it was dirty texts, that's what it was," Mr Austin told the court.

"Marcia used to send me photos of her private parts. She did it a few times in sexual positions."

He denied having an affair with the stepdaughter and said the messages had been sent after Mr Butler was shot outside his home in Green Lane, Dagenham on October 13, 2004.

Austin said his brother admitted his role in the killing when he spoke to him in Pentonville jail after his arrest.

Asked how much the pair was paid Mr Austin said: "There was a mention of five grand. I assume that was split between them.

"He could not understand why he had been charged with murder because all he did was drive the car. He was a glorified taxi driver.

"I believe him because I don't think he realised the seriousness of his participation.

His brother's barrister Leonard Smith claimed one of the reasons Mr Austin was giving evidence against his brother was because his wife had found out about the texts and he wanted to prove it was over between him and the stepdaughter, which Austin denied.

Mr Austin said the police had taken parts of what he had said out of context in his statement and he was told he could be jailed for seven years for perverting the course of justice unless he signed it

Johnson, 29, and David Austin, 42, were hired by Mr Butler's wife Yvonne and the stepdaughter amid allegations that Mr Butler was 'a nonce,' or paedophile.

Father-of-two Austin, of Dunley Drive, New Addington, Surrey, and Johnson, of Witley Crescent, New Addington, both deny murder.

Johnson also denies conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The trial continues.