A rapper accused of shooting dead his accomplice in a bungled robbery has told a court a mystery gunman fired the fatal shots.

Daniel Tesfay, 27, said he had "never held a gun in his life" and that he and friend Jonathan Barnes were not robbers.

Mr Tesfay, a rapper under the name 'Wolfie', is accused of killing 20-year-old Barnes in August last year as the pair tried to flee a house in Croydon with fake designer watches.

Appearing on Tuesday November 20, Mr Tesfay told the Old Bailey that he and Mr Barnes had arrived at the Morland Road house to buy two Rolex watches from Jordaan Williams, who lived at the address.

He claimed that the pair had realised that the watches were fake and were attempting to leave when they were prevented from doing so by Mr Williams, who grappled with Mr Barnes.

Mr Tesfay told the court:"We were leaving after we saw that the watches were a bad copy.

"I saw them struggling. He was trying to pull Jonathan back into the room.

"That is when I saw the gunman coming down the stairs and that is when I turned and ran."

Mr Tesfay said he did not know the identity of the gunman.

The prosecution alleges Mr Barnes had tried to snatch the watches, believing they were genuine, and Mr Tesfay accidentally shot him in the head having taken aim at Mr Williams.

But the defendant said: "There was no robbery. We had the money with us.  Jonathan wanted to buy the watches.

"I have never held a gun in my life. Jonathan didn't need to steal. He had money."

Responding to the claim he had referred to himself as 'Murder Mike' or 'Murder Man' as he threatened Mr Williams with a gun, Mr Tesfay said: "I have never gone by that name. That seems like something out of a movie."

He denies murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The trial continues.