Doctors gave 16 litres of blood to stabbed teenager in Brighton

Doctors at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton were ready in advance as an ambulance took in Mustafa Momand who had been stabbed 18 minutes earlier.

The 17-year-old suffered a “traumatic cardiac arrest” after he was stabbed in the chest and had his pulmonary artery severed by a 16-year-old over a drug debt.

Mustafa, from Brighton, "ran for his life" for more than 150 metres up Queen’s Road while bleeding out before collapsing just past the junction with Gloucester Road.

Brighton Youth Court heard yesterday that Mustafa was “completely unresponsive” and had a fixed gaze. First responders were unable to find a pulse.

Prosecutor Nathan Rasiah KC said: "Blood was coming from his mouth and no pulse could be found. His jacket was removed, revealing the stab wound. Defibrillator pads were placed but there was no change in his pulse."

Flowers and a card left near the scene where Mustafa Momand collapsed (Image: Andrew Gardner/The Argus)

An endotracheal tube was inserted into Mustafa's mouth to try to provide oxygen into his lungs and protect them from any blood.

Mr Rasiah said: "Cuts were made to both sides of the chest and blood oozed from the left side."

Emergency surgery was performed including opening his chest. Hospital staff gave him 16 litres of blood and sewed up his pulmonary artery but at 6.40pm he was pronounced dead.

A post-mortem carried out two days after the stabbing, which happened on October 5 last year, revealed that the wound was 4.9cm in length and around 9cm deep.

The pathologist said it was “approaching severe force” to break through Mustafa’s sternum. He said lacerations on Mustafa's hands were defensive injuries.

The defendant being arrested in Bevendean Crescent (Image: Sussex Police)

Mustafa’s parents Noor and Suraya cried in court as details were read out of the emergency service’s attempts to save their son.

Helen Shields was walking up Queen's Road when the attack happened. She provided first aid and compressed Mustafa's wound at the scene. Mrs Shields described how Mustafa's blood was "running down the street".

The defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was picked up on CCTV running from the scene across London Road and then up Lewes Road and eventually Bevendean Crescent 2.5 miles away.

He was stopped and searched just before 6.30pm because he matched the description of the attacker. The boy was let go as he did not have a knife on him, the court heard.

About five minutes later two police officers drove passed him. He told them he had already been searched, the court heard.

He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken to Hollingbury Custody Centre.

When they arrived, officers received the news that Mustafa had died so they further arrested the boy on suspicion of murder.

The defendant was further arrested on suspicion of murder when Mustafa Momand died (Image: Sussex Police)

He smiled and was heard on body cam footage saying “my broski don't worry about it. It should not be an AM [attempted murder], should have been a murder”.

Police searched the Bevendean Crescent area multiple times and eventually found a balaclava and glove in a wheelie bin.

DNA results from the balaclava and glove matched the defendant. Mustafa's blood was found on his clothing including boxer shorts and soles of his shoes.

The defendant will give evidence tomorrow.