Key Points
- On trial for defendant: William Scammell, 25, of Honiton Road, Speedwell, is currently on trial at the Bristol Crown Court for attempting murder and possession of firearm with intention to endanger life.
- Details of the victim and incident: Ryan Cridland sustained fatal injuries after he was shot while in his car on Speedwell Road at around 1.45 pm on April 1, 2026.
- Ballistic findings: According to Robin Verheijen, a forensic ballistic expert, the victim had been shot from a distance of about one metre, based on an analysis of the shell, clothes, and wounds.
- Survived despite extensive injuries: The victim had between 180 to 220 pellets in him after being shot through his Moncler coat and Trapstar jacket, yet he survived the shooting.
- Doubtful intent: The ballistics expert testified that there was no way he could tell from the evidence if the discharge was intentional or not.
- Eye witness testimony: There is testimony from an eye witness of a man waving a firearm shortly before it was discharged.
Speedwell (Bristol Express News) October 7, 2026 — As reported by Angus McIntyre of Bristol Live, a Speedwell shooting victim was possibly blasted in the chest from point-blank range, a court has heard. Ryan Cridland was seriously injured after a gun was fired at a car on Speedwell Road at about 1.45pm on April 1 this year.
William Scammell, 25, of Honiton Road in Speedwell, denies one charge of attempted murder and one charge of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. He is currently on trial at Bristol Crown Court.
What did the ballistics expert reveal during the trial?
As detailed by Angus McIntyre of Bristol Live, ballistics expert Robin Verheijen gave evidence during day three of the trial at court on Wednesday, October 7.
As reported by Angus McIntyre of Bristol Live, Mr Verheijen stated that, based on analysis of a shell believed to be linked to the incident, the clothes Mr Cridland was wearing at the time, and the wound he suffered, a possible explanation for what happened on April 1 was that he was shot by a shotgun from a distance of about a metre away from the car he was sitting in.
How severe were the injuries sustained by Ryan Cridland?
According to Angus McIntyre of Bristol Live, Mr Cridland’s Moncler coat and a Trapstar jacket he was wearing underneath both had holes consistent with the location he is believed to have been shot. The court was shown pictures of a gaping wound on the young man’s upper left chest, along with dark marks possibly caused by fire material.
As noted by Angus McIntyre of Bristol Live, an analysis found lead and propellant residue on the Moncler coat, while the Trapstar jacket contained fibres from the outer coat and blood. Despite the fact that between 180 and 220 pellets entered his body, Mr Cridland survived.
As reported by Angus McIntyre of Bristol Live, Mr Verheijen said the limited dispersion of the pellets in Mr Cridland’s chest were consistent with a close-range shooting. However, the forensic scientist said it was impossible to tell whether the shooter had intentionally pulled the trigger, based on the information available to him.
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What else did the court hear regarding the incident?
As covered by Angus McIntyre of Bristol Live, an eyewitness saw a man waving a firearm around shortly before it was discharged, the court heard. Scammell, dressed in a khaki-coloured t-shirt and sporting a thin dark moustache, sat impassively in the dock while Mr Verheijen gave evidence.
As the legal proceedings progress, Bristol Crown Court confirmed that the trial continues.
Background of the particular development
The legal proceedings unfold following a violent incident on April 1, 2026, in the Speedwell area of Bristol. Gun violence and firearm-related offences remain a major priority for Avon and Somerset Police, prompting heavy investigative responses, multiple crime scenes, and intensive forensic scrutiny. Trials involving charges of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life require rigorous expert testimony from ballistics specialists, such as Robin Verheijen, to reconstruct crime scenes, evaluate weapon discharge distances, and assist juries in understanding complex physical evidence.
This development highlights ongoing concerns regarding public safety, knife and gun crime, and community security within local Bristol neighbourhoods like Speedwell. For the local community, residents, and legal observers, high-profile trials addressing firearm violence underline the gravity of local policing efforts and judicial outcomes. Depending on the jury’s verdict at Bristol Crown Court, the case could set significant local precedents regarding accountability in firearm incidents, potentially shifting local perceptions of community safety and influencing neighborhood vigilance across East Bristol.
