one of the men accused of the murder of James Caines yesterday.

Archie Warner who is representing Teiko Furbert, made these accusations as Sheldon Franks spent a full day on the stand.

Father-of-one Franks 32, of Dundonald Street, Pembroke, is jointly charged with Furbert, 25, of Rocklands Estate, Warwick, with murdering Caines on July 6, 1996. They both deny the charge.

The court heard that Franks joined up with Furbert on July 6, 1996 in an alley off Curving Avenue and they intended to beat Caines up.

Before setting off to the house on 27 Curving Avenue where they thought Caines was located, Franks said that Furbert told him to wait a minute and went to a bush behind a house on 23 Curving Avenue and came back.

"He came up behind me and asked me if I was ready. I got up off the wall and started to walk,'' he said.

In response to a question from Mr. Warner, Franks admitted that he never told Police he saw Furbert go to any bush. And he admitted that he knew Furbert used to hide his drugs in that location.

Franks said he too hid his drugs but in a different place from Furbert.

After the shot was fired, Franks said Furbert passed him at the top of some stairs and other people were running away from the house.

"I just thought he ran off because of guilt for breaking into my house. I did not know he was shot. I said `go head you motherf****r run'.'' Franks said that unlike everyone else who was attempting to flee the scene, he walked to the back of the house to see if Caines had come out through that door.

"I went looking for him. I wanted to threaten Caines with a stick.'' Franks denied ever hitting Caines with the stick although he said he raised it above his head when he saw him stand upright.

He steadfastly denied firing the shot that killed Caines although he said it was Furbert who had the gun.

Nonetheless he could not explain why his right hand tested positive for handgun residue while none was found on either of Furbert's hands.

He said: "Teiko knew full well I had nothing to do with this. He should have seen the position he put me in and own up to it. We went to the house with different intentions.'' Meanwhile, Franks admitted that he had lied to Police in his first interview after his arrest on July 7, 1996.

He neglected to tell the investigating officers that he had not mentioned the shooting at all or that he was in the vicinity of Curving Avenue on the night of the murder.

Franks said that he did not tell the "full truth'' at the time because he was trying to protect Furbert.

The case is due to continue today before Puisne Judge Richard Ground. Charlene Scott is assisting Mr. Mottley and Renee Foggo is assisting Mr. Warner. Franks is represented by lawyer Mark Pettingill.