It must be love! Man refuses to testify against girlfriend accused of shooting him – so he can MARRY her

A love-struck boyfriend is refusing to testify against his partner who is accused of shooting him because he wants to marry her.

Randolph Costa was allegedly blasted at close range by Evelyn Barnave who faces 25 years in jail if found guilty of attempted murder.

The 59-year-old initially pointed the finger at his girlfriend, but he is now refusing to co-operate with prosecutors in her trial at Brooklyn Supreme Court.

Happier times: Randolph Costa, right, was shot in the head by lover Evelyn Barnave, left, in 2011

Times change: Barnave is pictured here with lawyer Paul Hirsh during her trial for shooting her lover in the head at close range in the Brooklyn neighborhood in 2011

He told the New York Post : 'I'm just hoping they drop this order of protection so we can get married. We love each other.

'Everything was an accident. We feel they should get out of the way and let us be.'

Unemployed Barnave, 43, shot Costa when he reached through the window of her car in Crown Heights on January 11, 2011, leaving him with a bullet lodged against his spine.

Barnave, who met Costa on a subway platform five years ago, argues that the shooting was an accident.

In a handwritten statement made on the day of the shooting, she said Costa was trying to punch her through the car window as they argued over their joint checking account.

Hot headed: Barnave's prosecutors weren't able to make attempted murder charges stick after Costa refused to testify despite having had a bullet lodged in his spine from their spat

The statement, which also claims that Costa is HIV-positive, added: 'I stuck my hand out the window. I heard the gun go off. I did not even realize that I hit him.'

But police say the fact she got rid of the firearm discredited that claim.

Barnave also told The Post that Costa's hospital-bed accusation must have been fabricated by police because 'had his mouth wired shut and was on all kinds of drugs'.

Defense attorney Paul Hirsch said the couple would ask the judge to marry them if the case was thrown out.

The trial continues on Monday.

Change of heart: Costa pointed the finger at Barnave initially but then refused to testify. Here, he holds a photo of the two of them