Man was accused of assisting an offender

A DRIVER accused of helping a gunman flee the scene of a shooting has been cleared in court.

The Old Bailey heard Andrew Rock, 24, was alleged to have helped Kirk Franklin, 23, get away after he shot a partygoer in the Asda car park in Forty Lane, Wembley, in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

Jemaine McDougall, 22, miraculously survived even though he has been hit at point blank range in the head.

Today (Thursday), Rock, who claimed he had no idea what had happened before Franklin got in the car, was cleared of assisting an offender.

Franklin admitted his guilt on Tuesday part way through his trial that also took place at the Old Bailey.

Jurors heard Mr McDougall had met up with three female friends to go to a New Years Eve party on the Chalk Hill Estate in Wembley.

Franklin agreed to escort them to the right flat but he got into a row with one of the women.

Mr McDougall interjected and Franklin stormed off threatening to return with a gun.

At around 5am the group left the party and walked towards the nearby Asda car park when Franklin jumped out of a car and shot McDougall in the head.

The victim’s friends immediately dialled 999 and named Franklin as the gunman, jurors were told.

The gun has never been found.

Franklin, from Stanmore, admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing the firearm with intent to endanger life and will be sentenced on November 19.