Court hears pair planned to steal a cache of counterfeit designer watches

A man accused of shooting his accomplice dead in a bungled Rolex robbery checked into a hotel under a false name after the killing, a court heard today.

Daniel Tesfay, 27, of Godwin House in Tollgate Gardens, Kilburn is accused of blasting friend Jonathan Barnes, 20, in the head as they attempted to steal a cache of counterfeit watches on August 23 last year

The Old Bailey heard Mr Barnes, from Catford, southeast London, was injured in a struggle with Jordaan Williams, who had invited the pair to his house to buy the luxury timepieces.

He died in hospital shortly afterwards.

Jurors were told in the days that followed, Tesfay booked a room at the Kensington Townhouse Hotel in Earl’s Court, southwest London, where he checked in under the name Yusuf Ibrahim.

But police tracked him down and armed officers swooped on September 1 as he returned from a nearby Boot’s store where he had gone to buy toiletries.

Tesfay was arrested and a search of his single room later revealed �400 of cash in �100 bundles.

He later gave no comment in his police interview.

Tesfay and Mr Barnes are said to have ambushed Mr Williams at his home in Croydon, south London, after he advertised the fake watches for sale using Blackberry Messenger.

The would-be robbers believed the Submariner watches to be real and worth around �8,000, but they had in fact been bought over the internet for as little as �118.

Tesfay is said to have produced a semi-automatic pistol, before grabbing hold of the watches and shooting Mr Barnes as the pair struggled to make their getaway.

Tesfay adenies murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The trial continues.