TWO men accused of having a role in a man’s murder have appeared back in court for a re-trial.
Daniel Macleod is alleged to have killed 22-year-old Abdul Deghayes in a “short, but vicious attack” over a drug deal in Elm Grove, Brighton.
The 37-year-old is on trial at Southwark Crown Court in London alongside 55-year-old Stephen Burns, who is accused of assisting an offender.
A jury was sworn in this week before Judge Nicholas Hilliard, the BBC reported.
Mr Deghayes, of Chadborn Close, Brighton, is the brother of Amer, Jaffar and of Abdullah, who joined forces fighting against the regime of Bashar Al-Assad in Syria.
He suffered eight stab wounds in an attack outside Hanover Court in Elm Grove, the court heard.
Adam Feest QC, prosecuting, told the court that Macleod, was a drug dealer known on the street as “Frank”.
He had driven from Crawley to Brighton on February 16 last year to meet Mr Deghayes for a drug deal.
They met on a dark driveway outside the block of flats, where Mr Deghayes suffered eight wounds, including to his hand, back, and leg.
One wound penetrated his kidney, two wounds cut through his leg, severing a vein and artery.
Mr Deghayes had managed to get into a car to drive away with his friend Colby Broderick, but just metres away he collapsed, crashing into parked cars, Mr Feest said.
The prosecutor said: “There is no dispute that he [Mr Macleod] inflicted at least some of the stab wounds which killed Mr Deghayes.
“That this was a drug-related murder is clear but the exact motive may never be known to anyone other than Mr Macleod.
“Mr Deghayes was killed by Mr Macleod in what was a short, but must have been a vicious attack.”
The prosecutor said Burns assisted Macleod to leave the area.
Mr Deghayes died of his injuries at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in the early hours of February 17.
Police launched a murder inquiry as neighbours in Elm Grove were left shocked over the incident.
Macleod, of Gypsy Road, Lambeth, denies murder. His defence, the jury heard, would be that Mr Deghayes had come at him with a knife and tried to stab him.
Stephen Burns, 55, of Lennox Street, Brighton, denies a charge of assisting an offender.
The trial continues.
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