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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Raid accused 'was watching film' | Raid accused 'was watching film' |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| A man accused of involvement in the £53m Securitas raid has told a court he was at home eating an Indian takeaway and watching a DVD when it happened. | A man accused of involvement in the £53m Securitas raid has told a court he was at home eating an Indian takeaway and watching a DVD when it happened. |
| Cage fighter Lea Rusha, 35, of Southborough, Kent, said he had a vindaloo and watched a film. | |
| He denied any knowledge of the heist despite the court being told that his DNA was on a balaclava discovered in a van containing £1.3m in cash and a gun. | He denied any knowledge of the heist despite the court being told that his DNA was on a balaclava discovered in a van containing £1.3m in cash and a gun. |
| Six other men deny a series of charges in relation to the robbery in 2006. | Six other men deny a series of charges in relation to the robbery in 2006. |
| Mr Rusha said after having an argument with a friend on 20 February 2006 he spent the rest of the day "drowning his sorrows" in a pub in Tunbridge Wells. | Mr Rusha said after having an argument with a friend on 20 February 2006 he spent the rest of the day "drowning his sorrows" in a pub in Tunbridge Wells. |
| 'Stinking hangover' | 'Stinking hangover' |
| He said he woke up on 21 February, the day of the robbery, nursing a "stinking hangover". | He said he woke up on 21 February, the day of the robbery, nursing a "stinking hangover". |
| Mr Rusha said he ordered the takeaway at 1830 GMT. | Mr Rusha said he ordered the takeaway at 1830 GMT. |
| His barrister Graeme Wilson said: "To sum up the prosecution, they say you are the main man in this case. They say you are a planner, a kidnapper and a robber and have been involved in the disposal of the proceeds. | His barrister Graeme Wilson said: "To sum up the prosecution, they say you are the main man in this case. They say you are a planner, a kidnapper and a robber and have been involved in the disposal of the proceeds. |
| "What do you say about the prosecution's accusations?" | "What do you say about the prosecution's accusations?" |
| "It's a joke," Mr Rusha replied. | "It's a joke," Mr Rusha replied. |
| "Are you guilty or not guilty of the offences the prosecution say you are guilty of?" asked Mr Wilson. | "Are you guilty or not guilty of the offences the prosecution say you are guilty of?" asked Mr Wilson. |
| "Not guilty", Mr Rusha said. | "Not guilty", Mr Rusha said. |
| Earlier he was asked why a black balaclava containing his DNA was found in the back of a white Transit van that was discovered at Ashford International Hotel two days after the robbery. | Earlier he was asked why a black balaclava containing his DNA was found in the back of a white Transit van that was discovered at Ashford International Hotel two days after the robbery. |
| Trouser pocket | |
| A Skorpion machine pistol, a bulletproof vest and £1.3m in cash from the robbery were also found in the vehicle. | |
| Mr Rusha said the only suggestion he could make was that his DNA had somehow got on the item when he got into the van to check a sample of cannabis he was planning to buy from the van's owner a week earlier. | Mr Rusha said the only suggestion he could make was that his DNA had somehow got on the item when he got into the van to check a sample of cannabis he was planning to buy from the van's owner a week earlier. |
| The depot was the scene of the UK's biggest ever cash robberyThe defendant was also asked why his fingerprints were found on a plan of the Securitas depot found at his home. | |
| He said he spotted the plan in the boot of a Mercedes car he borrowed from his employer some time before Christmas 2005. | He said he spotted the plan in the boot of a Mercedes car he borrowed from his employer some time before Christmas 2005. |
| Mr Rusha, a former roofer, said he assumed it was some sort of building design, put it in his trouser pocket and thought nothing more about it. | Mr Rusha, a former roofer, said he assumed it was some sort of building design, put it in his trouser pocket and thought nothing more about it. |
| Asked why the plan was found behind a chair in his bedroom, he said: "My only explanation is that I threw the jeans on the back of the chair and the piece of paper must have fallen out and gone behind the chair." | Asked why the plan was found behind a chair in his bedroom, he said: "My only explanation is that I threw the jeans on the back of the chair and the piece of paper must have fallen out and gone behind the chair." |
| Conspiracy charges | Conspiracy charges |
| The defendants on trial include car salesman Stuart Royle, 48, of Maidstone, Kent, and his former business partner, John Fowler, 58, of Staplehurst, Kent. | The defendants on trial include car salesman Stuart Royle, 48, of Maidstone, Kent, and his former business partner, John Fowler, 58, of Staplehurst, Kent. |
| Also charged are former depot worker Ermir Hysenaj, 27, of Crowborough, East Sussex; Jetmir Bucpapa, 26, of Tonbridge, Kent; and garage owner Roger Coutts, 30, of Welling, south-east London. | |
| All six deny conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to kidnap Mr Dixon and his wife and child, and conspiracy to possess firearms. | All six deny conspiracy to rob, conspiracy to kidnap Mr Dixon and his wife and child, and conspiracy to possess firearms. |
| Signwriter Keith Borer, 53, of Maidstone, Kent, has pleaded not guilty to handling stolen money. | Signwriter Keith Borer, 53, of Maidstone, Kent, has pleaded not guilty to handling stolen money. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |