A gunman mistakenly shot his friend in the head as he tried to flee a botched robbery, a court heard.

Daniel Tesfay is accused of gunning down and killing Jonathan Barnes as they allegedly attempted to make off with three fake Rolex watches from a house in Croydon.

Mr Tesfay, 27, and Mr Barnes agreed to pay Jordan Williams £6,500 for the watches after meeting him at his Morland Road home in August last year, the Old Bailey was told yesterday.

Unknown to the pair the watches were fake and worth little, the jury was told.

But Mr Barnes then snatched the watches and attemped to escape the house with his accomplice without paying, the Old Bailey heard.

When Mr Barnes was prevented from leaving by Mr Williams, Mr Tesfay threatened Mr Williams with a handgun before firing two shots, one of which struck his friend in the side of the head, the court was told.

The court heard he then fled the scene.

Prosecutor Roger Smart said: "It is clear from the firing of the firearm in this was that there was intent to kill or at the very least cause grevious bodily harm."

Mr Tesfay denies murder and a second charge of possessing a firearm with the intent endanger life.

The trial continues.