Shop killing accused denies knowledge of raid plan

A MAN accused of being part of a gang of robbers responsible for the death of Huddersfield shopkeeper Gurmail Singh has insisted he knew nothing about the planned raid on the store.

Muawaz Khalid, 20, who denies murdering the 63-year-old and robbing his Cowcliffe shop, gave evidence yesterday and rejected suggestions he was "excited" about the raid.

Khalid, of Blackmoorfoot Road, Huddersfield, accepted he was feeling drunk after sharing a litre bottle of whisky and cherry cola with co-defendants, Umare Aslam, his cousin, and a friend, Nabeel Shafi.

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During cross-examination, Khalid insisted he was not aware a robbery was planned for that evening. Khalid said he had gone with the others to see another of the accused, Shoaib Khan, because Khan wanted to see how he was after he had come out of hospital following an attack.

The group then went off in a taxi, but Khalid said he did not know they were going to the store. Khalid claimed he knew nothing the robbery plan and had no involvement in the attack on Mr Singh.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Khalid and Shafi ran off together and Khalid later discarded his top and jeans because he had vomited on his top and his jeans were "caked in mud". The prosecution alleges Mr Singh was bludgeoned to death with wine bottles during the robbery in February.

Khalid, 20, Aslam, 20, of Coniston Avenue, Dalton, Shafi, 18, Park Hill, Bradley, and two other men 18-year-old Rehman Afzal, of Jacinth Court, Fartown, and Shoaib Khan, also 18, of Calton Street, Hillhouse, have all denied murdering Mr Singh.

Afzal and Shafi have admitted robbery, but the other three defendants all deny that offence.

Khan has admitted assisting an offender. The trial continues.

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