Residents ‘saw savage attack that killed teen’
CROWN OPENS CASE AGAINST SEVEN, WHO DENY MURDER
SEVEN men murdered a teenager while retrieving a stolen “drugs line” phone which belonged to two of them, a court has heard.
The alleged victim, Abdirahim Mohamed, 18, was said to have begun using the stolen handset to take over supplying heroin and cocaine and was responding to a call from a customer when he was allegedly attacked.
James House QC, prosecuting, told a jury at Leicester Crown Court: “This was a ferocious attack with weapons, causing significant and ultimately fatal injuries.”
The court heard on the night of September 8, Abdirahim set off on foot to meet with Abdul Suleman, who was allegedly posing as a drugs client.
They had arranged to meet on the corner of Maidstone Road and Melbourne Street, in Highfields, the court heard.
Mr House said Abdirahim and his associates had burst into a property off St Saviour’s Road, in the city, where rival drug dealer, Rizwan Gul, was present, on September 6.
Rizwan Gul’s Audi rental car and several mobile phones were taken. The prosecution claimed Abdirahim sent out bulk text messages on his rivals’ phone indicating it was business as usual.
Having met up with Abdirahim, at about 11.40pm on September 8, Suleman allegedly alerted Rizwan Gul, who arrived with co-defendants in two cars, it was claimed.
The accused, who are all from
Leicester and all deny murder, are: Rizwan Gul, 26, of no fixed address; Zakir Brant, 26, of Bale Road, Northfields; Mohammed Israfeel Gul, 28, of New Way Road, Stoneygate; Daniel Pollard, 30, of Calder Road, Beaumont Leys; Mohammed Hansrod, 30, of Dulverton Road, Westcotes; Abdul Hemid Suleman, 59, of Jupiter Close, Highfields; and Bhavic Parmar, 26, of Bowling Green Street.
Mr House said several residents witnessed the “ferocious” attack.
Abdirahim was initially chased into Garendon Street. He ran into Maynard Road and then Melbourne Street, where a witness saw someone slashing him with a machete and calling him a “pussy,” with others kicking him.
A woman resident came out and shouted to get off him.
Another witness heard screams of pain and saw four to six people attacking a lone male, who was being “hit with a pole” and kicked.
Members of the public went to Abdirahim’s aid. Paramedics and a rapid response doctor attended.
Mr House said: “Every effort was make to save him but to no avail.”
Two of the seven stab wounds were serious, one to his back and one to his left thigh that severed a main artery, Mr House said.
The teenager also suffered a large skull fracture and brain injury caused by blunt force, consistent with a blow from a bat or pole or banging his head on the ground, according to consultant pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton.
Abdirahim’s mobile phones, including the drugs line handset, were missing.
Abdirahim’s rucksack was still with him, containing 40 wraps of heroin and some cash.
Moments before the attack, a number of witnesses in Maidstone Road heard “a commotion”.
One resident heard a car driving at speed and braking loudly at about 11.40pm. He saw a maroon Audi stop adjacent to the park and six people with knives get out of the car in dark clothing, with gloves and and covered faces.
The driver was carrying a “butcher’s knife or meat cleaver”.
A short time later, the witness heard a young male voice shouting “Help me, help me” from the direction of a basketball court.
He then saw the six men returning to the Audi but heard one say “I’ve lost the key” and then say “quickly, to Kent Street,” where another vehicle, a Ford Mondeo, was waiting, allegedly driven by Daniel Pollard, who ferried them away.
Three other men are also on trial charged with assisting an offender, by providing help, such as clothing or transport.
They are: Fahad Ali Saleem, 26, of Frederick Street, Spinney Hills; Khatib Gull, 58, of Apollo Court, Highfields; and Adam Brant, 29, of Bale Road, Northfields.
The trial continues.