Deadly fight over women at the shisha lounge

A killer stabbed a drinker to death after the victim approached one of the women sat on his table at a shisha lounge, a court heard.

Ali Faris Muhammad, 26, was murdered during the fight outside the Tiger Bay Shisha Lounge on Kingsbury, northwest London on 18 May last year, jurors were told.

William Amadi, 21, is accused of charging towards him and stabbing him with a knife he had brought to the scene.

The men and their friends started brawling after Mr Muhammad approached a woman sitting at Amadi’s table, Southwark Crown Court heard.

The fight moved outside the venue after security became involved and Amadi ran towards Mr Muhammad with a knife despite him being held against some railings, the court heard.

Amadi denies murder and claims he acted in self-defence.

He has admitted possession of a knife.

Prosecutor Catherine Farrelly, KC, said: ‘A 3.27am on 18 May last year Ali Faris Muhammad collapsed in the street from a stab wound to his heart that had been inflicted by this defendant.

‘Just over an hour later at Northwick Park Hospital he was pronounced dead.

‘The prosecution case is that the fatal injury was delivered as part of a violent incident during which the defendant was angry with Ali Faris Muhammad and quite determined to fight with and injure him.

‘CCTV will show the defendant made a deliberate decision to charge at Ali Faris Muhammad with a knife even at the point when the deceased was being held back by others.’

Ms Farrelly said Amadi and Mr Muhammad were both sat drinking with a group of friends on opposite tables inside the shisha lounge.

Mr Muhammad was already inside when Amadi arrived with friends in a grey Mercedes, the court heard.

The groups first interacted when Mr Muhammad tried to speak to one of the women sitting at Amadi’s table before another woman intervened.

Another exchange began between the two groups and a member of staff and security guards tried to separate them, Ms Farrelly said.

‘The defendant then appears to become involved in an exchange with one of deceased’s friends and at that point a security guard stepped in.

‘The exchange carries on and at one point the deceased returns to the group and several others from the defendant’s group also appeared to become involved in discussion with the deceased until the deceased moves away.

‘From the CCTV it would appear the defendant was looking off in the direction the deceased had walked away.’

Mr Muhammad again approached some of the women and started speaking and Amadi challenged him.

‘The two appear to have been engaged in some sort of discussion and at one point one of the deceased’s friends forced himself between them and talked to the defendant.

‘At this point things appear to have become heated and the deceased stood behind and watched what was happening.

‘One of the women in the defendant’s group appears to try to pull the defendant away from the exchange but he shrugged her off.

‘Things then escalated further and CCTV shows the deceased was shouting and gesticulating towards the defendant, possibly throwing something at him, and the deceased was then pulled back by others.

‘The defendant began to shout towards the deceased and at one point appeared to reach towards his coat pocket.

’At this point in the altercation the defendant appears to shout toward the deceased “Come outside, come outside, I dare you.”

The confrontation between the groups continued and Mr Muhammad put a glass bottle in his pocket, jurors were told.

He was then taken away by security in a different direction to Amadi.

Amadi was escorted outside onto the street as members of both groups and security staff began to gather outside.

Mr Muhammad left the venue and walked towards Amadi’s group.

Ms Farrelly said: ’CCTV shows his hand moved towards his back pocket in which he had place the bottle.

‘He then appears to have thrown that bottle in the direction of the defendant and at that point a fight then broke out between the two groups.’

Mr Muhammad was held against the railings and prevented from taking part in the fight, the prosecutor said.

She said Amadi was fighting and appeared to throw a punch at someone.

‘Security appeared to try and separate those involved and the defendant moved away from the deceased and out onto the road.

‘Whilst in the middle of the road the defendant broke away from those holding him back.

Ms Farrelly said a member of security staff told Amadi to get into his car and leave ‘or he might go to jail’ but Amadi ‘said he didn’t care’.

‘Footage shows at this point once the defendant had broken away he can be seen holding an object in his right hand and the prosecution case was that was a knife.

‘Armed with that knife the defendant then moved and shouted towards the deceased who was still being held against the railings by others.

‘As the defendant moved towards Mr Muhammad, Mr Muhammad managed to break free and ran towards the defendant.

‘The CCTV shows the two men then in middle of road and at one point the defendant lunges towards the deceased.

‘Having done that the defendant then immediately pulls his right hand back and lunges towards him a second time.’

Ms Farrellly said this was when Mr Muhammad was stabbed.

The fighting continued until Mr Muhammad collapsed 11 seconds later.

Mr Muhammad was put into a car by his friends and driven to hospital.

Amadi left the scene on foot with others and went to a block of flats.

He called in sick to work the next day and officers attended his address and stopped a minicab which was driving him away before arresting him, the court heard.

Amadi, of Underhill, Barnet, denies murder.

The trial continues.