A man accused of murdering Aquil Richardson rounded on a prosecutor under cross-examination accusing him of "framing" him.

Antoine Anderson denies any involvement with shooting 30-year-old Mr. Richardson dead in Southampton on December 26, 2007. In evidence in his own defence on Wednesday, he described the victim as a "good friend".

When Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Michael McColm yesterday suggested that he did indeed travel to Southampton with co-accused Philip Bradshaw to carry out the crime, Anderson responded: "You need to moderate the tone of your voice and address me proper. Mr. Richardson is a friend of mine and that's insulting, and we didn't travel anywhere to no Southampton."

The defendant, who initially told Police he was home in Pembroke at the time of the shooting but now claims he was actually in St. George's, also told Mr. McColm: "Mr. Richardson's family wants justice, true. They're not getting that by framing innocent people."

Asked by the prosecutor to explain how he was being framed, Anderson responded: "You are doing that...you're telling me I killed Mr. Richardson. Mr. Richardson is my friend so you're insulting me, first of all. That's what I mean by framed...do you know how it feels to be incarcerated because they're alleging that you murdered your friend? Do you know? Because as the prosecutor your job is to paint a picture. This is not about justice. This is about winning I can tell."

The exchange came after Mr. McColm quizzed Anderson closely over his movements that night and over a party in Southampton on Christmas Eve. A man named Jakai Harford who has family links to Anderson and attended the December 24 party with him was shot in the shoulder as they left in a convoy of cars.

Anderson told the court on Wednesday that two men brandishing firearms entered the party, and he saw a third man shoot Mr. Harford as he left. However, the trial heard from Detective Constable Warren Bundy last week that Anderson denied having seen the incident when questioned about it.

"You were right there," said Mr. McColm yesterday. "You were right there. You had one of the best views. You saw the shooter and saw who it was, saw what he did."

Anderson replied: "I can never forget that. It happened right in front of me. I've not been the same since."

But, he insisted: "I did not tell the officer I did not see anything. I told them I did not wish to say anything."

Asked why, Anderson said this was because the culprits had been armed.

"I was fearing for my life. I didn't want any part of it."

He claimed he leaned against the car Mr. Harford was shot in afterwards, and stuck his fingers in the bullet holes. This, he told the court, could explain why gunshot residue was found on his clothes by Police investigating Mr. Richardson's murder.

"Yes, I was examining the holes. It fascinated me. You see it in the movies. To see it in person curiosity got the better of me. It was unreal," he said.

Anderson, 31, and Bradshaw, 26, deny murdering Mr. Richardson and injuring Lavar Smith in the same Boxing Day incident, and the case continues.

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