A JURY at the Old Bailey is due to consider its verdict on two men accused of a shooting that shocked a community.

Romain Arthur, 23, has denied claims that he ordered the attack on a young manager at the Cakes and Shakes milkshake bar in Woodford Green in a fit of jealousy over his son.

James Bryant, 24, spent two months in hospital after he was shot in the chest at the cafe in the High Road in November last year - just two days after bullets were fired through its front window.

The prosecution claims that Arthur hired co-defendent Temidire Owolabi to shoot Bryant after Bryant was seen holding Arthur’s two-year-old son while on a trip to the Westfield Shopping centre with the child’s mother Sade Lasisi.

Arthur told the court that a friend had called him on November 12 after seeing the boy at the shopping centre - but only because the child looked ill.

He accepted that he and some friends, including Owolabi, had then driven in two cars to Westfield, adding: “I have got a very strong relationship with my son, I was very worried about my son.”

Prosecutor Richard Horwell QC said: “You went immediately to Westfield because you wanted to confront James Bryant.”

Arthur denied wanting a confrontation but admitted that, despite failing to find his son at Westfield, he made no attempt to see him in the following two days.

He also denied arranging to have the front window of Cakes and Shakes shot out later that day, and seeing a message posted on Facebook by Mr Bryant after the first shooting which read: "You're popping but no-one’s dropping so you ain't shooting right.”

The court was told that mobile phone records placed Owolabi, 21, in Woodford Green at the time of the shootings on November 12 and 14.

Accused of firing the shots, Owolabi replied: “That's complete madness.

“It hurts me so much to think that. I could never have done that. I don't know these people. I don't know this guy.

“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.”

Arthur is alleged to have repeatedly approached Ms Lasisi after his arrest, in an attempt to get her to withdraw her evidence.

At one stage he is said to have offered Mr Bryant £20,000, through her, to tell police the gunman was someone other than Owolabi.

Owolabi, of Chafford Hundred in Essex, denies attempted murder and two counts of possessing a firearm with intent.

Arthur, of Hazel Way in Chingford, denies two counts of perverting the course of justice.

Both men also deny conspiracy to murder.

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