A man charged with the murder of Gary “Fingas” Cann steadfastly denied having anything to do with the killing or any gang activity.

Jermaine Simmons, 38, told police in a recorded interview that while he could not remember his exact whereabouts on the evening of the shooting, he had not been on Sound View Road when Mr Cann was gunned down.

Mr Cann was fatally shot outside his girlfriend’s home on Sound View Road moments after the couple returned home. Prosecutors have suggested that the attack was gang-related, with the victim being a member of the North Hamilton-based Parkside gang.

Mr Simmons and Zikai Cann, 24, have both denied charges of premeditated murder and using a firearm to commit the offence.

As the Supreme Court trial continued yesterday, the jury were shown a recording of Mr Simmons’ police interview, filmed following his arrest earlier this year.

Informed by police that a witness had placed him and another man on a bike on the area moments after hearing gunfire, Mr Simmons said the news was a shock.

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” the defendant said. “Believe me, I don’t know nothing at all.”

He said he could not recall the evening of the shooting, noting that five years had passed since the incident but that he was not in the area of Sound View Road and had nothing to do with the shooting.

Mr Simmons said he “knew of” his co-defendant, but was not friends with him and could not recall meeting or hanging out with him. Questioned about the victim, he said he knew nothing about him.

And he further told officers that he had never shot or owned a gun, had not heard of any gang called MOB and was not a member of any gang whatsoever.

Told by one of the officers that the police gang expert believed he was a member of MOB, Mr Simmons responded: “He’s a joker. He’s not been around. He’s just a joker. I’m telling you, I’m not MOB. I ain’t a part of no gang.”

While he said he was friends with people in the Cambridge Road area where he grew up, he refused to name anyone he socialised with.

The trial is expected to continue next week.