A bank worker who came face to face with an armed robber thought he was going to be killed, a court heard.

Bank of Butterfield employee John Gilbert said one of two robbers threatened him with a handgun and shouted to "to lay my f**king head down or he would blow my f**king head off''.

"He told me to put my head on my arms, at that point in time I would have done whatever they asked me to,'' he said in giving evidence to Crown counsel Patrick Doherty.

"I am not afraid to admit that I prayed, because of what I had seen done to my colleague and the instructions I was given, threats issued, I had no reason to believe that it wouldn't be carried out.

"I thought it was going to be my final day.'' Mr. Gilbert had seen his colleague, Clayton Simmons, beaten by the robbers and he himself was hit and kicked during the raid.

He was giving evidence during the trial of Randolph Lightbourne, 32, of Devon Springs, Devonshire. Lightbourne denies armed robbery at the Somerset branch of the Bank of Butterfield in July, 1997.

He has also pleaded not guilty to using a firearm, two counts of unlawful wounding and carrying a firearm with intent to commit an offence.

Last February, another man, Reid Jones was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for his part in the $70,000 raid.

Security officer Clayton Simmons, 69, described how he was pushed and hit, before one of the robbers assumed a stance before him. "I said `go ahead and shoot', I didn't know if it was a gun in his hands,'' he said.

Both men agreed with defence counsel Marc Telemaque that the raiders were clothed head to toe and were wearing helmets, making identification nearly impossible.

Bank staff describe hold up confusion trying to start a motorcycle, ran off towards East Shore Road.

Bank workers Brenda Burnard, Lolitta Phillips and Karla Trott told of the confusion during the raid. Brenda Burnard described how one of the raiders had gestured at her with a gun, which she later identified.

Former Government Senator Larry Scott told how he saw two men come from the bank, dressed in "freezer'' coats, and run off after failing to start the cycle.

Under cross-examination from Mr. Telemaque he said he wouldn't be able to recognise the two men again.

Sgt. Christopher Clarke was one of the first officers on the scene. He recalled seeing two men on East Shore Road in blue and black clothing, wearing crash helmets.

They disappeared, and using his knowledge of the area, the policeman tried to intercept the pair.

After stopping his vehicle on Mount Pleasant Road, one of the men crossed his path and he said he recognised him as Reid Jones, whom he had known for six years.

Jones then sprinted through a hedge.

Another man then appeared, who the officer recognised from his clothing as the same man he had seen minutes before on East Shore Road.

Sgt. Clarke said he turned towards him and raised his right arm, which held what he believed could have been a handgun.

The trial, before Puisne Judge Norma Wade Miller, continues today.