A man on trial for murder said the victim was a friend and that his death had made him shed tears, a court heard on Monday.

Perrie Dennis, 23, of Thornbury Close, Newington Green, also claims the shooting of Aarron Mckoy in Clerkenwell on New Year’s day was not gang-related, and omitted crucial details in his police statement in order to protect his family.

Mr McKoy was with his twin brother at the Clerkenwell House Wine Bar, in Hatton Wall, when he was chased by a group of men and gunned down after trouble flared outside the club.

Dennis told the Old Bailey: “People don’t know what I did in my house. I was crying when my friend died and I was crying for this whole situation. It affects me every day. I am still grieving for my friend.”

Aftab Jafferjee QC, prosecuting, asked why he hadn’t mentioned that his cousin Dean Smith, also on trial for murder, was involved in a fight outside the club prior to the killing in his original police statement.

Dennis said: “I wasn’t too keen on helping them [the police]. Why should it be me that has to take the stand and testify against my cousin? But through me trying to protect my family I have ended up catching a murder charge.”

He added: “I was stressed. I wasn’t thinking straight. A lot of things didn’t make sense. I really can’t tell you where my mind was at that time.

“I just signed it [the statement]. I just wanted to go home. I didn’t want to tell the police anything or be a witness, I just wanted out of the situation.”

Dennis confirmed that Mr Mckoy was not aggressive at any point during the evening, nor was he intoxicated.

He said: “He was merry and tipsy. He was happy, it was his birthday and New Year’s Eve. But he wasn’t drunk.”

The prosecution maintain violence erupted outside the club due to warring Hackney gangs. Dean Smith, 26, from Lordship Road, Stoke Newington, a rapper also known by his street named Bungle, is accused of pulling a trigger.

Mr Jafferjee asked Dennis: “You know this entire event, which started with a stabbing and within a minute or two a murder, is entirely gang–related, don’t you?”

He replied: “I personally don’t think it was gang–related. The reason he died had nothing to do with gangs. It was one man’s actions.”

Dennis denies murder and told the court he did not think Smith had a gun.

He added: “I am not trying to help anyone, just trying to help myself. I am in a pickle now because of something someone else has done.”

Osman Mohammed, 23, of Homerton Road, Hackney, Daniel Oyetoro, 27, of Charlbury Crescent, Romford, Jack Nichols, 21, and Ceon Hewitt, 22, of High Street, Wickford, are also charged with his murder.

The trial continues.