Pc murder accused 'not involved'

Mustaf Jama denies murdering Pc Beshenivsky

A 29-year-old man accused of killing Pc Sharon Beshenivsky has told a court he was a mere "foot soldier" in the armed robbery in which she died.

Mustaf Jama said he "wasn't involved" in the detail of the raid at a Bradford travel agency in November 2005 and was only following instructions.

He has denied murder but has admitted robbery at Newcastle Crown Court.

Mr Jama's brother, Yusuf, then 20, and gang boss Muzzaker Shah, then 25, have already been convicted of murder.

Mr Jama told the jury he was approached by his brother's friend, Shah, in north London two days before the robbery, who told him he wanted to "do something".

They were doing their part and I was doing my part. I had nothing to do with the planning

Mustaf Jama

Mr Jama told the court: "I thought it would be a crime, drugs or whatever," adding that Shah "acted like a gangster" in London.

He said he was told to drive a hire car to Leeds, obtain some "tying up equipment" and "dress smart".

He said he bought some cable ties from a garden centre and borrowed a friend's car before meeting his brother and driving to Leeds.

On arrival, he said Shah told him his role would be to tie people up and act as a lookout while the robbery took place.

'Frighten people'

Mr Jama told the jury he thought it would be a "simple affair" because he was told they were to steal drugs money from four elderly people who would be unlikely to resist.

"Shah never told me we were going to rob a travel agent, and he never told me we were going through a door which had an alarm," he said.