Man 'thought gang incapable of raid'

Umare Aslam, 20, claimed he initially knew nothing about a plan to steal from the 63-year-old's store in Cowcliffe and said he initially refused to take part.

Aslam told a jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday he was told they were going to a girl's home and it was only when they got out of the taxi that Rehman Afzal said, '"Let's do a raise.''

He told the court he thought this meant stealing from a shop.

Aslam had travelled to the area with Afzal, Nabeel Shafi, and Muawaz Khalid, but said he said he was not going to rob anyone.

But he said after initially walking away he came back and agreed to be a lookout and was not sure why. He did not think the others were capable of robbery.

Aslam claimed after the others went into the shop he walked up the steps and saw Afzal punching the shopkeeper in the face.

Aslam claimed to have seen Shafi hit the shopkeeper once on the head with a bottle.

Aslam, of Coniston Avenue, Dalton, Khalid, 20, of Blackmoorfoot Road, Crosland Moor, Shafi, 18, of Park Hill, Bradley, 18-year-old Afzal, of Jancinth, Court, Fartown, and 18-year-old Shoaib Khan, of Calton Street, Hillhouse, all deny murdering Mr Singh.

Afzal and Shafi have pleaded guilty to robbery, but that charge is denied by the other three defendants.

Khan has admitted a charge of assisting an offender.

The trial continues.