A man accused of killing a drug dealer has told a jury he was 'set up' by three friends who attacked and stabbed the victim.
Ryan Singleton says he was furious with the other members of the group because he had gone to Steven Crook's flat to buy drugs rather than to rob him.
He said the visit to Crook's home turned from a drug deal to a robbery 'at the drop of a hat' but he had not been involved in the violence.
Singleton is being cross examined over his evidence in the trial of one man from Devon and four from Coventry who are all accused of murdering Crook at his home in Alphington Road, Exeter, in November.
The prosecution say former neighbour Steven Webster, who is now living in Okehampton, set up the raid which was carried out by four men from Coventry who came to Devon for a drink and drugs binge.
The jury have been told the five men believed he had £20,000 in cash or drugs at his house but escaped with only around £1,000, jewellery, a laptop and other valuables.
The prosecution allege Webster helped the other four gain access to the flat, which was guarded by a CCTV system, and the other four then carried out the attack with knives they had just bought at the nearby Sainsbury store.
They say after the attack the group went to Okehampton to buy drugs and then went to'celebrate' at the Spice Lounge restaurant in Exmouth and the Exeter Arms Hotel at Middlemoor, Exeter.
Steven Webster, aged 40, of East Street, Okehampton; Ryan Singleton, aged 26, of Howcotte Green, Canley, Coventry; Darren Twigger, aged 40, of John Rous Avenue, Canley; Bradley Richardson, aged 18, of Prior Deram Walk, Canley; and Anthony Martin, aged 22, of Gerard Avenue, Canley, all deny murder and robbery.
Singleton told the jury he had no idea the others had taken knives to the scene when they went to the flat to buy drugs.
He said Webster had shown them how to reach Crook's home through a back alley but had not joined them because he owed him money. He had remained in the car while they went in.
Singleton said he was angry with the others when they got back to the car because he had not intended any robbery and had no knowledge they were armed.
He said:"Before we got there, there was no discussion in the car about robbery or stabbing or violence or weapons. We did not come back to the car with any drugs. There were no drugs taken from there.
"I got in the front seat and turned around and they had bags and things in the back. I was ranting and raving and saying they had set me up. I was fuming.
"I knew I had not done anything. They had set me up and used me and Webby as a link to pull a move like that, so there were no comebacks on them.
"It went from a drug deal to a robbery at the drop of a hat, from one minute to another. None of this should have been happening."
He said they drove to Okehampton to buy drugs and then to Exmouth, where he went to the Spice Lounge, where he was seen on CCTV apparently re-enacting the events inside Crook's flat.
He said he was showing Webster what the others had done rather than demonstrating his own actions. He said he had gone back to the Exeter Arms with the others but left because he wanted to get back to Coventry.
Singleton is the first of the five defendants to give evidence. They all deny murder and say they were either not at the flat or did not take part in the violence.
