Murder accused denies being gunman who shot man dead in 'execution style killing'

A murder accused has denied being the gunman who shot a man dead in an alleged 'execution style killing’.

Abdul Ahsan is standing trial accused of murdering 29-year-old Andre Marshall in 2015. Mr Marshall, who is said to have been a member of the Gooch Gang, was found dead in Urmston after being shot seven times. Prosecutors allege it was an 'execution style killing'.

Mr Ahsan denies the allegation and gave evidence in his defence for the first time at Manchester Crown Court. Jurors have heard that Mr Ahsan was arrested and ‘fled’ to Pakistan after being released on bail.

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He was extradited back to the UK earlier this year and is now on trial. Jurors have heard that Mr Ahsan was also said to have been involved in ‘gang related crime’, including acting as a ‘courier’.

Giving evidence, Mr Ahsan said that he met Mr Marshall through a friend of his brother, and said that they became 'quite close'. "He kind of always wanted me around," Mr Ahsan told the jury. “I also enjoyed his company. I looked up to him and I respected him.”

Mr Ahsan said that over time, Mr Marshall asked him for a 'favour'. “He had asked me to collect some money for him on his behalf," Mr Ahsan said.

“I didn’t think much of it. I didn’t believe there to be anything wrong with it. He began to ask me to do it more often for him and I agreed.”

Mr Ahsan said that Mr Marshall would give him money in return. Asked by his barrister Gillian Jones KC where he believed the money came from, the defendant said: "Over time I did understand that it was from drugs."

The defendant said that he also began to move drugs for Mr Marshall. Asked what he thought of his