‘Accused’s schizophrenia was diagnosed in prison’
A MAN accused of stabbing a 21-yearold to death in Cardiff was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia while in prison.
Momodoulamin Saine is standing trial at Newport Crown Court accused of murdering Asim Khan, who was stabbed at about 4.50am on July 21 last year.
Saine said he felt “threatened and scared” and produced the knife to scare Asim Khan and his brother Hamza Khan.
Yesterday, the jury heard evidence from psychiatrist Dr Phil Huckle, who assessed Saine in March of this year.
Dr Huckle told the court Saine said he had been “hearing voices” and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia while in police custody.
The 28-year-old defendant said he had been growing increasingly paranoid in the lead-up to the incident after a friend had been stabbed to death in Liverpool 12 months previously.
Saine’s family told psychiatrists he had been experiencing symptoms of psychosis for a number of years before the events of July 21, 2019.
The jury was also told of a written transcript of a police interview with Saine on July 22 last year.
In the statement, which he had prepared with his solicitor, Saine admitted being present at the McDonald’s on St Mary Street where he admitted having an altercation
Saine said he had been at the Soda Bar on Mill Lane where he drank three double Jack Daniel’s and Cokes but said he was not intoxicated at this time.
While at the Soda Bar, Saine told police a man had spilled his drink.
Later on the same night he saw the male outside McDonald’s and approached.
Saine said he noticed the man drinking a cup of Coca-Cola which he thought he had bought from McDonald’s. He said he took his drink and started drinking.
Saine said two other males approached him and started to assault him.
He said he could not recall how many there were.
“I immediately felt threatened and scared,” he said. “At all times I was retreating.”
He said he fell over during the assault while moving backwards.
Saine said he made his way away from the scene.
He turned right on to Wood Street and realised he had lost his house keys, so he returned to the scene to find them.
Saine said he saw two members of the group who started “swinging punches towards me”.
Prosecutor Clare Wilks said the defendant told police he was kicked in the head resulting in injuries to his head and lip.
Saine also admitted he was in possession of a knife.
“My only intention was to scare the individuals,” Saine said.
“I pointed the knife in their direction with either my left or right hand.”
He said he did not realise that the knife had harmed someone until the following day.
Saine said he presented himself to a police station the following day after he realised a person had been harmed. He was then arrested.
Saine said he had a knife on him because he was becoming increasingly anxious about being attacked.
He said he did not intend to use the knife to cause injury.
He said: “I’m sorry for what happened. I regret my actions.”
The court also heard the transcript from an interview with Hamza Khan.
He recalled being outside McDonald’s where a man picked up his drink. Khan said: “He said to me oh f*** off and s***.”
Khan said he returned to McDonald’s where they were approached by the man a second time.
Khan said the man shouted “you f ****** P***s”.
He said his brother had “gone after him” and punched him.
Ms Wilks said Khan then told officers they “ended up on the floor somehow”.
“I was just defending my brother and that’s all that happened,” he said.
Khan said he saw his brother had a wound and “he dropped to the floor”.
Khan said he was there with his brother and three others.
The trial has heard that a 9cm to 10cm blade with the Joker’s words from the Batman films, “Why So Serious”, written on it was recovered from the scene, along with a damaged pair of glasses.
Saine, 28, from Bishopston Road in Ely, denies murdering Asim Khan.
Asim Khan’s brother Hamza Khan, 24, from Corporation Road in Grangetown, denies attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent on Saine.
The trial continues.