A witness who told the court he had seen a man shooting at a Bradford caf yesterday admitted to the jury that he had lied in statements to the police.
Defence barrister Simon Lawler described witness Mohammed Akhtar Ayaz, of Belvederes Terrace, as "a devious man" who had told "a number of lies and half truths" to the police.
Mr Ayaz, who told the jury he was an honest and law abiding man, also told them how he had seen defendant Safdar Khan, 23, of Tile Street, Girlington fire a gun towards the Young Lion Caf in Lumb Lane, on July 14 last year.
Destor Coleman, also known as Dexter, 27, of West Bowling, was shot dead during the violent incident which followed, and Mr Ayaz was charged with violent disorder and robbery -- charges which were later dropped.
Mr Ayaz gave a detailed account of what he had seen, to police, including six descriptions of Asian men who he claimed were involved in the violence. He yesterday admitted they were misleading.
Mr Ayaz, who admitted taking heroin at the time of the incident last year, said: "The reason I didn't tell them the truth at that time was for the simple reason of the repercussions for myself and my family - I lived in the immediate area of those who were involved."
When asked by Mr Lawler whether he was a devious man, he replied: "I've tried to get myself out of sticky situations in the past."
Safdar Khan denies murdering Mr Coleman. He also denies violent disorder along with Mohammed Shaffi, 26, of Wheatley Grove, Yousif Khan, 26, also of Tile Street, Girlington, Adelso Saws, 20, of Grange View, Chapel Town, Leeds, and Mohammed Raja, 22, of Parkside Road, West Bowling. Shaffi further denies a charge of attempting to murder O'Neil Giscombe and Raja has pleaded not guilty to the robbery.
The trial continues.
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