A MAN who is accused of being involved in the shooting of a drugs supplier has denied that his co-defendant was telling him to lie to police during covert recordings.

Charlie Statham and Aston Hannis were both secretly recorded in a police van following their arrest for the murder of Gurinderjit Rai, 41, who was shot in a layby on Shepherds Farm Lane, Corhampton, on July 12, 2019.

It is the pair’s case that they were at fellow accused Philip Hodan’s house where they had planned to watch Amir Khan’s comeback fight when Mr Rai was killed.

Statham and Hannis had been arrested on July 14 and whilst on their way to Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court they were recorded. The video has since been played during the trial currently taking place at Winchester Crown Court.

Previously giving evidence Statham said that he had taken between 12 and 15 Valiums, after drinking and taking cocaine, so could not remember the night.

Today (Wednesday) Statham answered questions from prosecutor Andrew Langdon QC.

The video sees Statham saying they went back to a Hannis’ cousin’s house, but Hannis disagrees and says: “It was Pagey’s mate, not K Dot.” And Statham saying: “Pagey’s, Pagey’s, Pagey’s – I’m an idiot.”

Mr Langdon said: “Were you being told by Mr Hannis during this conversation you were having with him to lie weren’t you.” Statham denied this, but later said: “He was potentially telling me what to say but I didn’t mention that once.”

Statham is also heard saying: “I said we went to watch boxing, but we were late.” Mr Langdon asked the 30-year-old whether he actually remembered the boxing, he said: “I don’t actually remember the boxing. To be perfectly honest I can’t remember.”

Mr Langdon said to the defendant: “What you are not saying to Mr Hannis is you have no memory of the boxing or getting to Hodan’s or leaving Hodan’s.”

Statham said that he was agreeing with Hannis that the plan was to watch the boxing.

The court previously heard that Hannis reminded Statham that they had been to the fields around Longwood Dean Lane, in Owslebury, with his cousin’s dog. The prosecution claim this is where the accused set light to a Mercedes car involved in the murder.

Defendant Paul White also gave evidence today, who is accused of murder and picking up Hannis and Statham after they had set light to the car.

The jury heard that White owned an Audi, which he was said to have been precious about and would get cleaned on a weekly basis.

Defence barrister Nigel Edwards QC said that in the days following the alleged murder White travelled to Basingstoke to get some last-minute shopping before his holiday and got his car cleaned.

Mr Edwards asked the 27-year-old: “Where you worried there might have been anything in there from the murder?” Mr White replied: “No definitely not.”

His barrister continued: “On the 11th or 12th July when you saw Mr Hannis and Mr Statham on either of these two days did they need to get into your car.” The defendant said no.

The court was told that White began smoking cannabis when he left school and continued as it helped with his ADHD, and later started taking cocaine which he would get off Hannis’ drugs runner Paul Elliot. He was also supplying to friends to be able to fund his own habit.

Statham, of Crescent Close, Oliver's Battery; Hannis, 30, of Leah Gardens, Eastleigh; Corin Barlow, from Horley, Surrey; White, 27, of Dyson Drive, Abbotts Barton, all deny murder.

Hodan, 43, of Longwood Dean Lane, Owsleybury, denies participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group.