A drug dealer paid another man just £280 and a pack of cigarettes to blow up a flat to cover up a murder, a court heard.

Andre Johnson, 25, of no fixed address, is accused of shooting Leroy Burnett, 43, because he smoked heroin that did not belong to him.

Colliston Edwards, 38, of no fixed address, is also on trial for his murder while Max Walter, 21, also of no fixed address, is accused of arson with intent to endanger others after being recruited by the pair to cover-up the killing.

Mr Johnson, who denies shooting Mr Burnett, told an Old Bailey jury yesterday he was paid £800 by Mr Edwards to cover-up Mr Burnett's murder in November 2010.

But he said he could not bring himself to do it and hired Walter instead to cover-up the murder, paying him £280, as well as a 20 pack of cigarettes.

Defending Mr Edwards, Miss Philippa Mcatasney, said: "You attended the murder, you said 'I duppied (a gangster term for killing) the guy'."

Mr Johnson said: "I did not say that, the only thing I did was make one phone call. I did not murder Leroy Burnett and I did not set fire to that flat.

"I could not do it, so I called Max and let him do it. I didn't have the heart to do it."

He said he knew Mr Burnett from walking their dogs together but they fell out when he would not take part in a robbery organised by Edwards.

Mr Johnson said: "Mr Edwards got a robbery for £16,000 and these people, they wanted to buy a key of heroin. And I did not want to get involved in it and both of them were trying to get me involved in it."

Initially he told police they fell out following an argument about a hair cut.

Johnson told the court he was scared of Edwards, who he said got him into selling drugs in 2009.

Miss Mcatasney said: "You sell Class A drugs on the streets of Clapham, you are not scared of anyone are you?"

He said: "I know I will have to watch my back now just in case - when you are a grass in a murder case."

Mr Johnson has pleaded guilty to arson and perverting the course of justice, but denies murder.

Mr Edwards has pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice, arson and murder.

Mr Walter pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and arson, but not guilty to intending to harm others.

The trial continues.