A MAN accused of murdering a police officer in Leeds told a jury that an unnamed friend carried out the shooting.
David Bieber, 38, of Spring Wood Road, Leeds, entered the witness box for the first time at Newcastle Crown Court to deny shooting Pc Ian Broadhurst, 34, dead at point blank range and the attempted murders of Pc Neil Roper and Pc James Banks, in Leeds on Boxing Day last year.
He also denies possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing 200 9mm pistol cartridges. He has admitted possessing 298 9mm bullet cartridges without a firearms certificate.
Bieber told the jury his friend had travelled from the US to settle an old score and obtained a gun. He refused to name the man.
On the day of the shoo- ting the pair had gone to Dib Lane in Leeds, where Bieber went into the post office to buy some newspapers and a chocolate bar. He had gone to a phone box when the shooting began.
He said when the police car pulled up he became concerned.
"What concerned me now was one, the car was stolen, and two, my friend had a firearm on him," he said.
Bieber told the jury he was 70 yards away from the shooting. He ran off along Dib Lane before slowing to avoid suspicion. Moments later, his friend pulled up in a green Rover and he got in. The gun was on the floor.
Bieber said his friend was freaking out: "He screamed `I'm on video, they have got me on video, they have got a photo of me,'."
The trial continues.
