Alleged Cakes and Shakes gunman says the suggestion is ‘complete madness’

Temidire Owolabi, 21, of Chafford Hundred, Essex, is said to have shot 24-year-old James Bryant at the Cakes and Shakes milkshake parlour last November.

Owolabi allegedly plotted the attack with Romain Arthur, 23, of Hazel Way, Chingford, after Arthur’s two-year-old son was seen in Mr Bryant’s arms at the Westfield shopping centre, Stratford.

Owolabi blasted out a window in the High Road store on November 12 and then “upped the ante” two days later after Mr Bryant mocked the “tactics” on Facebook, the Old Bailey has heard.

Mr Bryant was lucky to survive the attack and spent two months in hospital.

Giving evidence yesterday, Owolabi said he was at the home of a friend – referred to as Dylan - at the time of the November 14 attack.

Mobile phone records are said to place him in Woodford Green at the time of the shootings.

Asked about the suggestion he was the gunman, Owolabi said: “That’s complete madness.

“I could never have done that. I don’t know these people. I don’t know this guy.

“I find it ridiculous. I’m supposed to have shot somebody because he was holding my friend’s son, but my friend wasn’t even upset by it.

“Even if he was, I’ve got my own life.”

He said his rented Ford Focus – said to have been seen in the area at the time of the second shooting – had been handed over to a friend who was told to return it to a west London company.

Owolabi denies attempted murder and two counts of possessing a firearm with intent.

Arthur denies two counts of perverting the course of justice.

Both men deny conspiracy to murder.

The trial continues.