INDIANAPOLIS -- An acquaintance of Desmond Turner, on trial in the shooting deaths of seven family members, said he had no knowledge of the killings, and that he believes his testimony is being misinterpreted.

Harrol James Couch, 50, testified Tuesday in Marion Criminal Court that Turner, 31, called him in the days before the June 1, 2006, slayings to ask where he could get a high-powered rifle.

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He told 6News' Derrik Thomas on Wednesday that he had tried to find out what Turner might have been up to, but had no prior knowledge of the slayings.

"There is no way in hell that I'd let that happen to that family, or anybody's family," Couch said.

He said news reports implied that he knew what Turner had allegedly planned, and that he failed to stop him, or to notify police.

"Just knowing it could have been stopped," Janie Covarrubias, whose brothers and father were killed, said outside court Tuesday before choking up.

"For them to imply I had prior knowledge to that and it could have been stopped, they got me wrong," Couch said.

Couch said he is a friend of the families of the victims, and has known Turner since he was 9 years old.

6News will be updating this story from court, so check back frequently for updates and follow theindychannel on Twitter.