An unknown person came from upstairs to shoot a man as he was buying Rolexes a court heard yesterday.

Daniel Tesfay is accused of shooting his friend Jonathan Barnes, 20, during a bungled robbery at an address in Morland Road, Croydon last August.

But the 27-year-old told the court it was in fact himself and Mr Barnes who were nearly robbed.

The two men had gone to the home of Jordaan Williams, after he advertised he was selling Rolexs on Blackberry messenger.

Giving evidence at the Old Bailey Mr Tesfay said he couldn't tell if the watches were fakes.

He said: "I told him [Jordaan Williams] I would have to get an expert to look at it as I wasn't 100% sure.

"That's when Jordaan started to try and convince Jonathan it was real and that he wouldn't try to rip him off."

Mr Tesfay told the court the conversation went on for some time before he decided he and Mr Barnes should leave.

"Jonathan got up and we started walking to the door. As I reached the door I turned round and Jordaan and Jonathan are pushing and pulling each other.

"I went back to help Jonathan, and Jordan said 'Get the money.' Then I have seen someone coming down the stairs, I haven't seen that person before and he had a gun in his hand."

The court heard Mr Tesfay turned and ran out of house. When he was further down Morland Road he heard two popping sounds.

He jumped in a taxi and called a friend and asked him to contact Mr Barnes family to let them know what had happened.

Asked why he didn't call the police, Mr Tesfay said: "I didn't think they would have shot him, it could have been a warning shot for him to stop fighting with Jordan."

Prosecutor Roger Smart asked: "Did you think he had been injured?"

"Maybe beaten up or shot, but in the leg to stop him fighting, but I didn't think he would be shot in the head," replied Mr Tesfay.

The trial continues.