Calls 'only about selling drugs'

The two men were shot during the Chandler's Ford robbery

A man accused of being part of a gang of armed robbers claims phone calls between him and the alleged mastermind were only to do with selling drugs.

Adrian Johnson, 28, denies knowing about a foiled raid in Chandler's Ford, Hampshire, where Mark Nunes, 35, and Andrew Markland, 36, were killed.

He is one of four London men who deny conspiring to rob security vans.

Mr Johnson said his calls to Mr Nunes were about selling cannabis not planning robberies.

He also told Kingston Crown Court he spoke on the phone in the hours after the shooting to alleged getaway driver Mr Wallace who told him he had a heard a rumour Mr Nunes had been killed.

Mr Johnson said he then rang Mr Nunes' girlfriend and said "I've heard a rumour Mark has been killed."

The 28-year-old from Streatham Hill, Terence Wallace, 26, of Raynes Park, Leroy Wilkinson, 29, from Streatham and Victor Iniodu, 34, from Tooting, all deny conspiracy to rob between April 2006 and September 2007.

Mr Johnson also denies separate charges of possessing a prohibited weapon and stealing a cashbox containing £25,000.

Sold cannabis

The prosecution claim the alleged gang raided at least 18 banks in the south of England during an 18-month campaign and netted £500,000.

The jury has seen video footage which showed Mr Nunes being shot as he held a gun to a security guard's head at HSBC in Chandler's Ford.

His alleged accomplice Mr Markland was then shown reaching for the weapon before too being shot last September.

Mr Johnson told the court how he became friendly with Mr Nunes in 2006 and the pair began to go to the gym together and out to clubs and pubs in the Brixton area.

He told jurors he sold cannabis and said phone calls which the prosecution claim showed his involvement in the planning of some of the raids were in fact to do with drugs.

He also claimed that a trip to Swindon which the prosecution allege was a reconnaissance trip was in fact a visit to a nightclub.

The trial continues.