‘I thought Yassar might be involved with dodgy cars’

THE best friend of Yassar Yaqub told a jury that he didn’t realise the man, who was shot dead by police on a M62 slip road, was involved in drug dealing and guns.

Rexhino Arapaj told Leeds Crown Court that he thought his friend might be involved in “dodgy cars” because of the lifestyle he had.

After his friend was shot dead by a police marksman on the M62, Arapaj said he was left frightened for his own safety.

He said he hasn’t realised his friend had been shot dead until his solicitor informed him.

Arapaj said he was shocked to learn that Yassar had been shot.

“I was shocked he was carrying a gun when he was shot.”

The defendant, who has denied a charge of conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life, admitted that he lied to police when questioned because he was scared.

He said he lied because he didn’t want to name names.

“I didn’t want to mention names ... to be called a snitch and something happen to me.”

Arapaj told the jury that he had withheld information to protect himself and not others.

Peter Moulson QC, prosecuting, asked Arapaj why, as Yassar’s best friend, he wasn’t aware that he was a “major drug dealer”. He said he wasn’t aware. The barrister said: “You knew that meeting (in Bradford) was about drugs and you knew your best friend had a firearm. That’s why you lied or withheld the truth.” Arapaj denied this. He said he was scared after the shooting and was still frightened now.

The court heard Arapaj has come to the UK “in the back of a lorry” from Albania when he was 14.

During questioning in court he described Yassar as a secretive man who told him not to ask questions.

He revealed that Yassar’s father had helped him with immigration matters.

Earlier the court heard from defendant Moshin Amin who said he was too frightened to give names to the police.

“I was in shock, I’d just seen my mate die in front of me.”

Amin said he was shocked and traumatised at the time he gave statements to police and hadn’t known that Mr Yaqub was carrying a gun. Audi driver Amin and his co-accused Arapaj and David Butlin are appearing at Leeds Crown Court nearly two years after the operation on a motorway slip road during which Mr Yaqub was shot.

They are each facing a charge of conspiracy to possess firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life. The trio are accused of carrying out the offence with Mr Yaqub, 28, of Crosland Moor, who was shot by a police marksman beside the M62 at Ainley Top on January 2 last year.

Butlin, 39, previously of Upper Sunny Bank in Meltham, but now living on Huddersfield Road in Holmfirth, is also facing a charge of having an offensive weapon, namely a push dagger, on the day of the shooting.

It is alleged that he had the weapon at junction 24 of the M62.

Amin, 32, previously of Broomer Street, Ravensthorpe, but now living at a bail address in Manchester, Arapaj, 28, of Thornlea Road in Crosland Moor, and Butlin deny the offences.

The case continues on Monday.