City worker in court for knife attack after row over selfie
A FINANCIAL analyst left a fellow City worker needing more than 30 stitches in a knife attack following an argument over a photograph, a court heard.
Bernardo Assis, 25, wedged a penknife between his knuckles before taking swipes at Alvaro Garcia-martinez’s head, face and neck, jurors were told.
Mr Assis had been out with friends at the Libertine nightclub in Fitzrovia, central London. They had asked another man to take a photograph of their group. However, the man pretended to take their picture while instead taking a series of selfies, before throwing the mobile into a nearby ice bucket, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Rodrigo Lameira, 25, a financial analyst with Goldman Sachs, described the man’s behaviour as “silly” and showing a “lack of respect”.
Their paths crossed again as Mr Assis and his friends headed towards Oxford Circus. The group saw the man and up to 10 others shouting obscenities, it was said. One of them confronted Alfonso Lopes, 21, Mr Assis’s friend, before a fight broke out, jurors heard. Mr Garciamartinez acted as a peacemaker, but suffered cuts to his neck and head which required 32 stitches.
Mr Assis is alleged to have slashed Mr Garcia-martinez at least three times. He claims he removed the weapon from a key chain to protect himself. Mr Assis, who now lives in Portugal, denies wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and an alternate charge of unlawful wounding. The trial continues.