A man charged with complicity in a 2009 armed robbery and the attempted murder of a shop owner insisted to jurors yesterday that he was innocent.

Matthew Mizzi, 29, of Cospicua, told jurors that he knew nothing about the robbery and that he had simply given the perpetrator, Jonathan Coleiro, a lift to Birkirkara.

Although Mr Coleiro, who is serving a 15-year sentence for his involvement in the case, said it was Mr Mizzi who provided the weapon used during the crime, Mr Mizzi stressed that the first time he had seen it was when it was pointed at his face when he was ordered to drive off.

Mr Mizzi took the witness stand in his defence as his trial by jury nears an end. He stands charged with complicity in the robbery and the attempted murder of the shop owner, Charles Micallef, who was shot twice. The hold-up took place on April 13, 2009, at Seven Mobile shop in Psaila Street, Birkirkara.

Mr Mizzi said he heard two gunshots and he was about to drive off and the gunman, wearing a balaclava, told him: “If you drive away, I will shoot you.”

He did not recognise the gunman, nor his voice, and only realised it was him when he removed his balaclava. Mr Mizzi said Mr Coleiro told him to invent a story to create an alibi and file a false report with the police that he had been the victim of a carjacking.

“There will be serious consequences for you otherwise; you know what I am capable of doing,” Mr Mizzi said Mr Coleiro had told him menacingly.

“I am innocent. I had nothing to do with this. If you allow me to I will continue bringing up my two children, one of whom is not even my own,” Mr Mizzi told jurors.

The trial continues today.