The ‘getaway driver’ standing trial for the murder of Digbeth businessman Akhtar Javeed told a jury he ‘wasn’t brave enough’ to drive away as the father-of-four was being shot.
Lemar Wali is one of two men charged with murder and conspiracy to commit robbery after Mr Javeed was shot and killed at his business premises on February 3. Wali, from Derby denies the charges. Prosecutors claim Wali drove the ‘getaway car’ involved in the robbery.
Suraj Mistry, from Leicester, is also standing trial for the same charges and has pleaded not guilty.
Another man, Tahir Zarif believed to have fired the fatal shot, is thought to have fled to Pakistan.
Giving evidence at Birmingham Crown Court, Wali said he was paid by Zarif to drive him to Birmingham on February 3 but he was only told it was a planned robbery, half an hour beforehand.
Wali also claimed it was Mistry who entered the business premises with Zarif on February 3, with the intention of ‘burgling the safe.’
