Navtej Singh accused 'fired to prove his gun was real'

A witness has told a High Court jury she heard accused gunman Anitilea Chan Kee say the only reason he shot liquor store owner Navtej Singh was because another man in the store said the gun he was holding was a fake.

Crown witness Rachel Pulepule said she heard Chan Kee, 22, talking about the robbery of Mr Singh's liquor store in Manurewa on June 8, 2008 - the day after the robbery and the day Mr Singh died in hospital from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Ms Pulepule told the High Court at Auckland yesterday that she heard him say the reason he shot him was the "other guy in there said it was a fake gun".

After that comment, he allegedly said he shot Mr Singh, 30, in the shoulder but had been aiming for his head.

In cross-examination, Lynn Hughes, representing Chan Kee, asked Ms Pulepule about her recollection of what was said.

She put it to Ms Pulepule that Chan Kee was not talking to her when she heard the comments he is alleged to have made.

Ms Pulepule said he had not been talking directly to her but to another witness, Moana Va, who asked him why he did it.

Ms Hughes said Chan Kee replied that he did not know and asked if the witness remembered that.

Ms Pulepule said she did remember.

The lawyer asked her about the comment about where the gun was aimed. She said Chan Kee said he was not aiming for the head, but Ms Pulepule again said she was "positive" about what she heard.

Chan Kee is one of six men on trial for murdering Mr Singh.

Myron Felise, 22, and Jason Naseri, 21, allegedly followed Chan Kee into the store and stole alcohol and cigarettes while Tino Faamele Felise, 19, waited in a car.

Two others - Eti Filoa, 25, and Walter McCarthy - acted as lookouts.

All have been charged with murder.