was fixing his bike miles from the crime scene when the raid happened.

And in Supreme Court yesterday Randolph Lightbourne's defence attorney called a key witness who confirmed the accused man's alibi.

Taking the stand on the seventh and final day of evidence, Lightbourne, 32, agreed that it was only because of a bizarre set of extraordinary coincidences that he found himself in the dock facing charges of armed robbery and wounding.

Recounting the events of the morning of July 8, 1997 when the Somerset branch of the Bank of Butterfield was hit by two raiders, Lightbourne explained that he had driven into Hamilton at about 9 a.m. after borrowing a friend's bike.

But the scooter broke down at the bus terminal and Lightbourne was forced to walk to a garage to buy a new spark plug.

It was while he was walking back to his bike that Lightbourne claimed he spotted Roderick Bean who gave him a lift back to the terminal in his car.

Lightbourne told the court he was so preoccupied with getting the bike repaired that he left his helmet, wristwatch and cigarettes in the car when he got out. The vehicle was later used as the getaway car in the robbery with Mr.

Bean behind the wheel. Lightbourne's borrowed helmet, keys and watch were later discovered still in the car, providing Police with crucial incriminating evidence. Forensic tests later showed that the helmet was covered in the blood of one of the bank security guards pistol whipped in the robbery.

Lightbourne also insisted that Reid Jones, who is currently serving seven years in prison for his part in the heist, had spent the previous night at Lightbourne's home and had left with his host's helmet on the morning of the robbery -- providing detectives with more clues linking Lightbourne to the crime.

But when questioned by prosecutor Patrick Doherty, Lightbourne was unable to explain why another piece of evidence found in the car -- a plastic bag containing gloves used by the raiders -- was covered in his fingerprints.

Mr. Doherty also asked why a witness who testified that she saw Lightbourne fleeing the crime scene would want to implicate him.

And he demanded to know why Lightbourne had failed to come up with details of his alibi before yesterday -- 18 months after his arrest.

"You would have this jury believe that it was just an unfortunate coincidence that you happened to be in the car on the morning it was used in the robbery,'' Mr. Doherty asked.

"It was another unfortunate coincidence that you left your keys and watch and helmet in the car. And it was another coincidence that one of the robbers may have used the helmet that you left in the robbery.'' Lightbourne went on to explain how, after realising that he had left the bike keys in the car, he took a taxi back to the friend who had lent him the bike -- Winston York. The two men then returned to Hamilton and fixed the vehicle before going their separate ways. By this time the robbery had already taken place. Lightbourne said he then went to a second friend's house before returning to Mr. York's yard.

The second friend, was not called as a witness by the defence.

"Let me take a guess -- he's off the Island right now,'' Mr. Doherty asked.

When Mr. York took the stand Mr. Doherty again went on the offensive, rubbishing his testimony and accusing him of protecting his friend.

He also revealed to the jury Mr. York's extensive criminal record, including convictions for rape and theft and demanded to know why York only came forward with his testimony after being approached by Lightbourne's lawyer, three months after his arrest and incarceration.

"I didn't feel like it at the time,'' Mr. York replied.

"You have spent some time in prison for serious offences,'' Mr. Doherty said.

"You will agree that, if you can help someone from your experience of being in prison, if you can help someone get out of jail by your testimony, that's something that will raise your stature with the inmates of Westgate? You would help out a friend if you could, is that right?'' "That depends,'' Mr. York replied, although he denied that he would lie to help a friend.

Both prosecution and defence counsels are expected to give their summing up arguments later today before Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller sends the jury out to reach a verdict.