Mountain barber’s accused killer says he didn’t do it

One of the men accused of murdering Neil Harris has testified he didn’t shoot the Mountain barber, but is refusing to name the man who did.

“My life’s on the line,” he told the court. “I’m afraid I might get killed.”

Erick Reid, 27, started testifying in his own defence on Wednesday. He and co-accused Odain Gardner are on trial for first-degree murder.

Harris was shot and killed on Feb. 18, 2016, after two men — one of them, Reid — entered his shop at 600 Upper Wellington St.

Reid testified he had gone to the barbershop with another man that day to buy marijuana for his pot selling business. But he had no idea of what was about to happen, he testified.

Reid said he no weapon and no gun with him, and said that he wasn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary after meeting up with the other man to take him to the barbershop for a supply of pot.

Reid stayed at the doorway inside the shop while the other man went up to Harris, he said. Reid heard a loud noise before Harris crashed into him as he stumbled out onto the sidewalk where court heard he collapsed.

Reid’s lawyer Monte McGregor suggested in his opening address to the jury that this crash explains how fibres from Reid’s hoodie that day would later be found on Harris’ shirt.

Reid testified he ran off and jumped into a car driven by the other man because “I didn’t know where the sound was coming from, who was shooting. I was startled. I didn’t know what happened.”

In later questioning, Reid confirmed he knows who the shooter is, but won’t say.

When asked why he won’t name the other man, Reid said “I’m afraid for my life.” He also expressed fear for the safety of his parents and siblings.

He testified about “the code” he grew up with in Toronto. That code ruled his life in Hamilton with the group he hung out with from the Oriole Crescent neighbourhood in the east end. The code meant you don’t rat someone out or testify against them.

“You don’t talk to the cops,” he said. “I know a lot of people who spoke to police who are no longer here. They’ve been killed.”

When McGregor asked why he is testifying, Reid said “To let the people of the court know I had no involvement in this. I had no idea this was going to happen.”

Assistant Crown attorney Brian Adsett pressed Reid on why he won’t help the jury — who are representatives of the community — by naming the shooter.

“I’m telling you about my involvement,” Reid answered. “I can’t tell you anything else ... I can’t help you.”

When Adsett reminded him that an earlier witness testified that Reid was the one with the firearm in the shop, Reid was adamant that he was not the shooter.

Lawyer Jaime Stephenson, representing Odain Gardner, has already presented her defence. Gardner did not testify.