South Hampstead man Cabdullahi Hassan was murdered as part of a “revenge” attack in a “scene of chaos and carnage”, the Old Bailey heard.
On July 25 last year, shortly before midnight, Mr Hassan, 20 at the time, was fatally stabbed five times in Ainsworth House, Boundary Road, St John's Wood.
His cousin, Ayub Hassan, 22, also of South Hampstead, was stabbed twice but survived the attack.
Amil Choudury, 20, of Walterton Road, Maida Hill, and Mohammed Miah, 20, of Lancefield Street, West Kilburn, have been charged with Mr Hassan's murder.
Choudhury, wearing a light blue shirt and Miah, wearing a dark grey suit, appeared at the Old Bailey today (Tuesday, 21 January) facing further charges of manslaughter, attempted murder and wounding with intent.
Both defendants deny all of the charges.
Prosecutor Oliver Glasgow QC claimed Choudhury and Miah "butchered" Mr Hassan and tried, but failed, to kill his cousin.
Mr Glasgow said: "Cabdullahi Hassan was stabbed five times and despite the prompt arrival of the emergency services, there was nothing that could be done to save him and he soon died after arrival at the hospital (St Mary's, Paddington).
"The second victim, Ayub Hassan, was more fortunate than his friend and although he was stabbed twice he was made a full recovery.
"The group that had attacked them fled the scene as quickly as they had arrived and among the group that had carried out the violence were these two defendants."
The court heard how the tragic murder followed a fight that afternoon in South Hampstead station where Mr Hassan punched Kamel Hassan, a friend of Choudhury's and Miah's.
Mr Glasgow said: "By the end of that short but unattractive episode, Cabdullahi Hassan had managed to either use or threaten violence towards three men, all of whom were friends with each other.
"It would appear that one or more of those three was not prepared to let the matter lie and that revenge was the object of the fatal violence that evening."
The prosecution said CCTV footage, traffic cameras and phone call analysis pinpointed the movement of the two cars, including Choudhury's Audi A3, which ambushed Mr Hassan and his cousin.
Mr Glasgow continued: "Once at Ainsworth House the occupants of the vehicles got out and began their search for Cabdullahi Hassan.
"At the time he was with his friend, Ayub Hassan, and that is how he came to become attacked.
"The two of them were set upon and stood no chance against the larger and armed group who attacked them.
"The focus of the attack was on Cabdullahi Hassan, which was why he sustained so many injuries, but the attacking group clearly wanted to exact a deadly revenge for the perceived sleight they thought they had been caused.
"Both men were left for dead as their attackers ran back to the two cars in which they had arrived and escaped."
Mr Glasgow continued: "At Ainsworth House the emergency services found a scene of chaos and carnage.
"Cabdullahi Hassan and Ayub Hassan both lay in pools of blood. Members of the public were trying to administer first aid but many were panicking."
Mr Hassan was then rushed to hospital but could not be saved following emergency surgery.
Mr Glasgow added: "The attackers had gone in numbers to ensure that Cabdullahi Hassan and anyone he was with could be easily overpowered, and the attackers had come armed in order to enable them to inflict as much harm as possible."
A post mortem of Mr Hassan revealed four stab wounds to his back, one to the front of his abdomen and "superficial, sharp wounds to both of his hands".
The trial continues.
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