A woman accused of trying to interfere with the police investigation into a sub-machine gun shooting has walked free from court today.

Eden Lee-Thomas, 23, of Northfield Road, Dagenham, was allegedly recruited to visit a suspect on remand at prison for the murder of 24-year-old Larry Malone.

It was claimed she attempted to prevent 19-year-old Shevonne Legister talking to police and find out what she had told officers in interview.

But following legal argument at the close of the prosecution case, the judge dismissed the allegation of perverting the course of justice.

He directed the jury to find Lee-Thomas not guilty of the charge and ordered her to be discharged.

Judge Stephen Kramer QC said: “I have decided as a matter of law that Eden Lee-Thomas should not face that count and it is not met out as a matter of law.

“It is my decision and my decision alone as the judge of the law.”

The Old Bailey has heard Legister was caught with the Mac10 weapon used to shoot Mr Malone.

She is facing trial for murder alongside Lemuel Robinson, 26, and Andrew Cross, 27.

Mr Malone was killed at a flat in Harpenden Road, West Norwood at around 12.46am on September 2 last year.

It is claimed a third man, Shubiah Linton, 27, helped arrange the collection of the Mac 10 from Legister by a man in a white van.

Cross, of Colchester, and Robinson, of Sutton, Surrey, both deny murder.

Legister, of West Norwood, southeast London, denies murder and assisting an offender by taking delivery of the Mac 10 machine gun.

Linton, of no fixed address, denies assisting an offender, possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition without a certificate.

The trial continues.