Accused killer Jahkeo LeShore told the Supreme Court yesterday that he was friendly with murder victim David Clarke and had nothing against him.

And while prosecutors have suggested the shooting was a gang-related response to the murder of Mr LeShore’s brother, the defendant said he never believed Parkside was responsible for his brother’s death.

Mr LeShore, 32, and Darrion Simons, 21, have both denied the premeditated murder of Mr Clarke, 26, who was fatally shot while riding his motorcycle near the entrance to Bandroom Lane on April 17, 2011.

Prosecutors have suggested the killing was one in a series of tit-for-tat shootings between two rival gangs — the North Hamilton-based Parkside and the 42 gang, based in the St Monica’s Road area — including the murder of Jahmiko LeShore six weeks prior.

Sargeant Alexander Rollin of the Gang Targeting Unit told the court that while Mr Clarke was not considered a gang member, his brother D’Angelo Clarke has been linked to Parkside.

Taking the stand in his own defence last week, Mr Simons said he had nothing to do with the shooting, telling the court he was at home in bed when the shooting took place.

He said that Mr LeShore had stopped by his house earlier that evening so Mr Simons could put movies and music on a USB for Mr LeShore, and the pair decided to go to the Mid Atlantic Boat Club.

As his cross examination continued yesterday, Mr Simons told the court that his conversation with Mr LeShore at his house lasted about five minutes, before the two left for Mid Atlantic Boat Club.

However, prosecutor Susan Mulligan showed the defendant CCTV footage from the club which showed a man, identified by Mr Simons as his co-defendant, leaving Mid Atlantic Boat Club and returning with Mr Simons less than three minutes later.

“The only way that round trip could have been made [in that time] is if you were ready and waiting for him at that time,” Ms Mulligan suggested.

Mr Simons responded: “That’s incorrect.”

He maintained that he had not left the club with Mr LeShore, and denied the suggestion that he had received a phone call seconds after the victim was seen leaving the club.

And he denied the suggestion that after the shooting he and Mr LeShore had abandoned the motorcycle used in the attack at a Crane Lane property before running home, scaling a neighbour’s wall and dropping his house keys in the process.

“I was already at home when the shots were fired,” he said.

Mr LeShore also took the stand, saying that while he hung out in the St Monica’s Road area where his daughter lives, he is not a member of any gang.

He said they went to the Mid Atlantic Boat Club at around 7pm on the day of the shooting, but around 15 minutes after he arrived a friend, Christopher Paris, had asked him to give him a ride to his house and he agreed.

He returned to the club at around 7.30pm, but left again to bring Mr Simons a USB stick.

“I wanted him to put some music on there for me and my daughter, so I went to drop it with him,” he said. “When I went to drop it off he asked me to give him a ride to boat club, so that’s what happened.”

He said the entire process took only a couple of seconds.

While he could not recall exactly when he left the club, he said he left alone, riding to his mother’s house in Devonshire, where he spent the night.

Mr LeShore said he had ridden the bike discovered by police on Crane Lane in the past and had been caught speeding on the motorcycle two months earlier, but he was riding his cousin’s bike on the night of the shooting.

Regarding his brother’s murder, he said his family had been told by a senior officer that they suspected the killing was linked to an altercation in a bar two days earlier involving a man from the eastern parishes named Tristan.

Mr LeShore said: “That’s who I believe did that to my brother. I never believed Parkside was responsible.”

And asked about a BlackBerry message which stated the “only thing that’s going to make me feel better is killing one or two of them personally,” he said: “I don’t recall seeing it. It doesn’t show who sent or received it. I probably could have said something like this. My brother passed. I was hurt. My whole family felt that way.”

However, he added that he never had any intention of revenge, saying he was not a violent person.

The trial continues.

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