But Jacob Adam Williams, 28, and Marcus John Williams, 33, claim the shooting victim was the one in possession of the gun and he was only shot during a struggle.

The two men are standing trial in the Supreme Court in Launceston after pleading not guilty to committing an unlawful act intended to cause bodily harm and aggravated armed robbery. Marcus Williams was a party to the first charge.

Two days before the January 11 shooting, two masked men broke through the door of a premises on Kay Street, Kings Meadows - the home of Jacob Williams, who was not present at the time.

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A woman and two-year-old child were at the house and had petrol poured on them by the two unknown robbers, who threatened to set them on fire. They then stole cash from a bag belonging to Jacob Williams.

In his opening address, Crown prosecutor John Ransom told the court Jacob Williams "began his own inquiries" in an attempt to identify the robbers. It was likely one of the men he contacted was one of the robbers, who gave him the name Kurt Jenkins in order to divert suspicion.

A police investigation supported the fact that Mr Jenkins was not responsible for the crime, but Jacob Williams attempted to track him down, leading him to co-accused Marcus Williams, who knew Mr Jenkins.

Mr Jenkins wanted to clear his name, so he agreed to meet them at McDonald's in South Launceston.

Marcus Williams climbed in the front passenger seat of Mr Jenkins' ute, before Jacob Williams climbed in the back and allegedly started punching Mr Jenkins to the head and drew a pistol. Marcus Williams also allegedly lifted his shirt to show he was armed.

The prosecution claims Jacob Williams held the gun to Mr Jenkins' body and demanded he drive to Pinkard Street at Kings Meadows, where they attempted to get him to go inside the house.

A woman, who the prosecution alleges was the victim of the home invasion, came to the window of the ute but it was likely that she could not identify Mr Jenkins, the court heard.

After Mr Jenkins refused to go inside the house, it was alleged that Jacob Williams shot him in the leg. Jacob Williams and Marcus Williams - who are not related - then allegedly stole $2500, drugs, identification cards and a mobile phone from the ute before fleeing on foot.

The bullet broke Mr Jenkins' right femur and he was rushed to Launceston General Hospital.

On January 16, police raided a room at the Silos Hotel where they arrested Jacob Williams allegedly in possession of $2500. His mobile phone was also alleged to contain messages related to Mr Jenkins.

Defence counsel for Jacob Williams Evan Hughes told the court that the main issue at trial was how Mr Jenkins obtained the gunshot wound.

"Kurt Jenkins was shot, it's clear that he received a wound, it's clear that wound resulted in bodily harm, it's not in dispute that he received a gunshot wound," he said.

"How did he get it?

"We say there was one gun, only one, and that one gun belonged to Kurt Jenkins."

Mr Hughes alleged that Mr Jenkins was the one who threatened others with the firearm.

No firearm was recovered from the scene and the bullet could not be removed from Mr Jenkins' leg.

The trial continues.