A reveller started trouble in a crowded pub and to

A reveller started trouble in a crowded pub and told one of his alleged attackers he was ‘dangerous’ moments before he was beaten to death, the Old Bailey heard today.

(TUES)

Sylvester Oti, 22, made the claim to a jury as he denied any involvement in the horrific murder of victim Graham Thomas.

Giving evidence Oti said that Mr Thomas, 21, approached his party and said: ‘You don’t know me, I am dangerous.

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Heated rows had erupted between two groups of young men after defendant Ryan Nugent, 19, shone a toy laser pen in Mr Thomas’s eyes.

Oti, Nugent and Michael Savva, 19, are then alleged to have clubbed Mr Thomas to death and injured his 30-year-old pal Richard Shillibeer.

Supermarket worker Oti told how he was watching a Euro 2000 football match with Nugent at the Litten Tree pub, in Holloway Road, north London last summer.

He said: ‘I remember Mr Shillibeer approaching our table and start talking to Ryan.

He was asking about an earlier incident before I arrived.

‘He warned us both to keep our eyes on the football and not on them.

‘I asked Ryan what it was all about and he told me he had accidentally shone his laser pen on Mr Shillibeer’s friend.

‘Shortly afterwards, Mr Thomas approached our table and asked what our problem was and why we were looking over at them.

‘I returned the question adding I was only here to watch the football and didn’t know what they were talking about.

‘Mr Shillibeer told me there was no point me getting involved – he seemed to be trying to calm down his friend.

‘But Mr Thomas was clearly angry.

He was getting more aggressive and then said, ‘you don’t know who I am, I am dangerous’.

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Oti told the court he got up to leave around 15 minutes later intending to go home and get changed.

‘I went to the toilet first but when I came back I couldn’t see Ryan anywhere,’ he continued.

‘I walked towards the main door and saw a doorman and the pub manager looking up the street.

‘A crowd of people appeared to be kicking another man lying on the floor.

It happened very quickly.

‘A woman came out of the neighbouring off-license shouting ‘he’s had enough’.

‘The crowd seemed to disperse and run away.

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Oti then left the scene.

The court had heard how, following his arrest Oti was identified in a police line up by a witness to the beating.

Defending Oti, James Wood, QC, suggested the witness recognised him because she shopped regularly in Waitrose, Holloway Road where Oti is a shelf stacker.

Oti replied: ‘I recognise her as a customer.

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Nugent, of Honey Lane, Waltham Abbey, Essex; Savva, of Hectoridge Road, Tunbridge, Kent; and Oti, of Corbyn Street, Finsbury Park, each deny murder, attempted murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on June 16, last year.

The trial continues.

ends