Argument between strangers in a bar ended in murder
MOMODOULAMIN Saine bent down and put his Jack Daniel’s and Coke on the floor as he lit a cigarette in a busy bar in Cardiff.
Hamza Khan, who was enjoying a Saturday night out with his brother Asim and their friends, didn’t spot the drink and accidentally knocked it over.
That moment was caught on CCTV from Soda bar in Mill Lane and became a key piece of evidence in a murder trial which culminated in two guilty verdicts yesterday.
Some of the first CCTV clips came from Soda and showed Hamza and Asim Khan arriving with friends at around 11.15pm on July 20 last year.
Momodoulamin Saine – who they did not know – was seen arriving 15 minutes later.
The initial argument at 12.25am was caught on camera after Saine put his Jack Daniel’s and Coke on the floor as he lit a cigarette and Hamza Khan accidentally knocked it over.
At around 2.45am Saine was seen to leave Soda and make his way to Kiwis bar nearby while the Khan brothers stayed in Soda for another hour.
Footage from around 4.20am showed the brothers walking along Caroline Street then into McDonald’s in St Mary Street.
Saine was seen on camera with an unknown ma`n outside Ty Madeira restaurant at 4.35am doing boxing or karate moves, including a jumping kick.
Footage of the first confrontation showed Hamza Khan putting his drink on a bollard outside McDonald’s before Saine grabbed it and took a sip.
The clip from 4.40am showed drinks being thrown and the Khan brothers following Saine.
CCTV from Wood Street two minutes later showed Saine running up to a police van, followed by the brothers, who then made their way back to their friends at McDonald’s.
Saine was seen walking along Great Western Lane then behind the Wok to Walk restaurant and back to St Mary Street.
The second confrontation, also caught on camera, showed him approaching the Khan brothers’ group.
A clip from 4.48am showed Saine going to the floor with Asim Khan on top of him. All three were fighting until someone intervened and Saine ran off.
Moments later another camera caught Asim Khan staggering and falling to the floor.
Hamza Khan was seen to help his brother as Saine ran off from St Mary Street, to Wood Street, Great Western Lane, Saunders Road, then Penarth Road.
But despite fleeing the city centre, justice caught up with Saine yesterday as he was convicted of murder, while Hamza Khan was convicted of attempted grievous bodily harm with intent.