A man accused of the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky today told the jury he had known firearms had been used in the robbery at the Universal Express travel agents in Bradford, but denied disposing of them.

Raza Ul-Haq Aslam, 25, said he had been told by co-defendants that guns had been used, in a conversation after the incident.

Cross-examined by Peter Wright QC, for Hassan Razzaq, Aslam told Newcastle Crown Court that Razzaq and his brother, Faisal, had told him they had got rid of the guns but he did not know where.

He admitted he had never mentioned that information during lengthy police interviews or in previous phone conversations to police when he used the pseudonym Alex. But he denied a suggestion by Mr Wright that he had just made that up to divert attention from himself.

Aslam said he had been told about the disposal of the guns about a month after the robbery on November 18 last year.

But Mr Wright said Aslam had told Crimestoppers, in an anonymous call on December 6 last year: "Two guns were used at the scene. The first was an 8mm pistol and silencer. This weapon was fired three times and it was this gun that killed Sharon. It was fired by Yusuf Jamma, who is in custody."

Mr Wright suggested: "The only way you could have had the information on December 6 is if you knew about it from the time of the robbery, because you disposed of the firearms."

Aslam replied: "I did not dispose of any firearms."

Mr Wright put it to Aslam that he was desperately trying to save his own skin. "You will do or say anything in an attempt to save your own skin," said Mr Wright. Aslam replied: "I haven't done anything wrong."

The jury was today reduced to 11 after a woman jurer was admitted to hospital as an emergency at the weekend.

The judge, Mr Justice Andrew Smith, told the remaining jurers that it was "unrealistic" for the woman to continue serving on the jury so they would carry on with 11 members.

Yusuf Abdillh Jamma, 20, of Small Heath, Birmingham, Raza Ul-Haq Aslam, 25, of Kentish Town, London, and brothers Faisal Razzaq, 25, and Hassan Razzaq, 26, both of Forest Gate, London, plead not guilty to PC Sharon Beshenivsky's murder.

Aslam and the Razzaq brothers deny robbery but Jamma has admitted that charge. Aslam, the Razzaq brothers and Jamma also plead not guilty to firearms offences though Jamma admits two charges of possessing a prohibited weapon.

Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah, 25, of London, admits murder, robbery, two charges of possessing a prohibited weapon and two charges of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. He has been acquitted of the attempted murder of PC Teresa Milburn.

The trial continues.