Man denies murder after ‘attack’ in city centre
A MAN has denied murdering a 21-year-old on a main street in Cardiff in an early-hours incident last July.
Momodoulamin Saine, 28, from Bishopston Road in Ely, denies murdering Asim Khan in St Mary Street and he is due to stand trial next month.
South Wales Police were called to reports of an assault in the city centre at around 4.50am on Sunday, July 21, last year.
Mr Khan, from Grangetown, was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to the University Hospital of Wales, where he died from his injuries.
The case of Saine and his co-defendant, Hamza Khan, was listed before Judge Paul Thomas QC at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday for a pre-trial review.
Khan, 24, from Corporation Road in Grangetown, is charged with attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and has not yet entered a plea.
Saine, represented by David Elias QC, appeared via video link during the hearing.
Caroline Rees QC, prosecuting, said the trial was listed for June 24 and is expected to last for between two and three weeks.
Jury trials were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic but began again in Cardiff on May 18.
Trials have started to take place in court five at Cardiff Crown Court, with court three used as an “overflow court” to enable social distancing.
Judge Thomas said: “I simply do not pretend to know what the logistics are going to be. I am not in a position to give a green light or a red light.”
He said he would need to make inquiries to establish whether a trial involving two defendants could be accommodated within the next month.
Distance between defendants in the dock and counsel in the courtroom has to be taken into consideration. Mr Elias pointed out this case would also involve junior counsel.
The judge said he would adjourn the case for a week, until next Wednesday, to find out more.