March 20, 2001 9:29: A RESPECTED Rastafarian elder described to the Old Bailey how innocent bystanders ran for cover during a shoot-out in a temple which left a musician dead.

Garfield "Howey" Stewart, 23, of Vigilant Close, Sydenham, stands accused of the murder of musician Junior "Gong" Collins, 40, at the Rastafarian temple, in Kennington, south-west London, in September 1999.

Ambessae Danks, former president of religious group the Ethiopian World Federation, was visiting the temple when the shoot-out took place.

He told the jury he saw an argument between Rastafarian elders and a gang of four youths including Stewart. Mr Danks said the gang were talking about somebody getting "filled", or shot, and temple members saying: "These boys can't shoot anybody."

He said: "It was a situation of conflict and I was concerned something like that should not happen in the Rasta house. I left the men there and started to go past the main entrance. I heard three shots."

Mr Danks said he remembered "people running for cover" as the bullets flew through the temple door. One hit Mr Collins in the heart, killing him instantly.

Stewart, who was arrested two months after the shooting, denies taking part in the killing. The trial continues.