A MAN accused of shooting his ex-wife's new husband says a stranger he sold a pistol to could be responsible for the murder.

Allan Kimber, 41, yesterday told the jury at Oxford Crown Court that a man he knew only as 'Tosh' could be the killer who murdered Gary Morgan yards from his home at Danesbrook Farm, Stanton St John, a year ago today.

Kimber, a bus driver, of Stert Street, Abingdon, denies shooting Mr Morgan.

He told the jury that before the killing, a male passenger on one of his buses asked Kimber, a gun enthusiast, if he could get a firearm for him.

Kimber said he told the man he had a Walther PPK pistol he could have - the one later found by police in his flat - but it was not in good working order He explained: "He said he was (interested), so we arranged to meet in a layby on the Eastern Bypass."

Kimber said the deal was done, but on October 15 'Tosh' came back to him saying he was having problems with it and wanted another PPK.

Kimber said they then arranged to meet at Barton Church on Monday, October 17, to swap the pistols, and did so at about 2.50am.

The jury has been shown CCTV footage of Kimber leaving his Abingdon flat shortly after 2am - which the prosecution allege was the defendant on his way to shoot 37-year-old Mr Morgan.

Forensic firearm expert Phillip Boyce has told the jury that the bullet recovered from Mr Morgan's neck could be "conclusively linked" to PPK found in Kimber's flat.

The defendant said he made his own ammunition and tested it in the faulty PPK, which could explain Mr Boyce's findings.

He told the jury he had concerns about Tosh, saying: "My suspicion is that it was either Tosh or someone he supplied the gun to."

But Neil Moore, prosecuting, accused Kimber of concocting a "bizarre and untrue" story.

He said: "I suggest if you are innocent it just beggars belief that you have not told police this information.

"It is simply incredible that an innocent man charged with murder would not have given this information to police so the real killer could be captured."

He asked Kimber why he had not told police about 'Tosh' when he was interviewed.

Kimber said: "I knew I could be prosecuted for selling a firearm."

Mr Moore asked: "Even though your information might help police solve a murder?"

Kimber replied: "I didn't want to implicate myself in criminal activity."

Mr Moore said: "You are an innocent man accused of murder, it doesn't get much more serious than that, and you had information which suggests it was someone else. Why on earth did you not tell police?"

Kimber said he was told by his solicitor to answer "no comment" to every question asked of him when interviewed by police.

Mr Moore said: "I suggest you did this to keep your powder dry, so you could craft a story around the prosecution evidence. You did this to allow yourself a blank canvas to paint a picture around the evidence."

Kimber said that was not true.

The trial continues.