Wolverhampton attempted murder trial: Shooting accused told police 'I've never been involved with guns'
A defendant accused of the attempted murder of a man near a Wolverhampton public house told police officers he has never been involved with guns.
Michael Soledolu, aged 34, and five co-defendants are on trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court accused of the shooting of a man.
They are accused of organising the shooting of a man in Minerva Lane off Lower Horseley Fields in Wolverhampton on September 18, 2024.
Giving evidence in his defence on Friday he told the court that he had no idea that anyone was going to be shot when he agreed to give friend Cleo Johnson a lift in Birmingham and Johnson brought along two men he didn't know.
He said he was not in agreement with any violence and that he did not know the person who was fired on after leaving the Harp Inn in Walsall Street on the night in question.
The victim's car tyres were also discovered to have been slashed.
Soledolu told the jury that he remained sitting in the Mercedes when the group left his car. He said he felt "terrified" when he heard the sound of the shots.
The jury was told that during his police interview after the incident Soledolu said: "I've never been involved with guns in my life" and that he was too "scared" to say anything about what happened. He said the men in his car spoke in patois and one of them was "super aggressive" in manner.
The victim, aged 45, sustained a gunshot wound during the incident and was treated in hospital for his injury.
Soledolu, aged 34, of Walmead Croft, Birmingham; Richard Beckles, aged 45, and Claire Evans, both of Wavertree Close, Telford; Khyle Gayle aged 32, of Greenford House, Birmingham; Cleo Johnson, aged 40, of Sparrows Forge Drive, Walsall; and Constantine Campbell, aged 52, of Puddlers Drive, Tipton, all deny attempting to murder the man.
The trial continues.