4:57pm Thursday 29th July 2010
By Court Reporter
A Watford man was the victim of a knife attack the day after his brother was assaulted by the same neighbour, a jury heard today (Thursday).
Ahmed Muhedin, 34, is alleged to have launched an unprovoked assault on Patrick William in a communal car park at the back of their homes in Vicarage Road.
Prosecutor David Owen-Jones told St Albans crown court that Mr William had gone to collect a loaf of bread from his car when he heard footsteps behind him.
He said: "He turned and felt something hit his chin and then his head. The defendant had a small penknife with him. Mr Patrick William managed to break free and the defendant disappeared for a short time. He went to his kitchen and came out with a kitchen knife and cut Mr William on a number of occasions."
The jury of seven women and five men were told the victim suffered cuts to chin, above his right eye, scratches to his left arm and a cut to the palm of his left hand.
It was alleged that the assault on Mr William came a day after Muhedin, who is assisted in court by a Kurdish interpreter, had assaulted his brother Hafizullh Salemohammed.
Giving evidence Mr Salemohammed said he had gone from his home in Vicarage Road to visit a friend in the same road called Monica, who suffers from cancer.
Mr Muhenin, who also lived in the multi-occupancy house at the time, met him in the kitchen and allegedly said: "You are not allowed to come here."
Mr Salemohammed told the court: "I said I wanted to see my friend. He blocked the door.
"He then closed the door. My left foot was still inside and he pressed the door against my leg. I tried to push him back to release my foot.
"He suddenly opened the door. There was something in his hand. It was a key or something. He hit me on the left shoulder and left upper chest. It caused two little scratches. I just backed off.
"He was saying: 'You are not allowed to come here. Why are you coming here? I don't like you coming round here.'
"He was shouting like he was on drugs or something."
The following day he said he looked out of his kitchen window and saw Muhedin in the car park with a kitchen knife with a 10 to15 inch blade.
"It was a very big knife. It was in his right hand. He was shouting. I opened the door to see my brother bleeding."
Police officers were called and arrested Mr Muhedin.
He told them that Mr Salemohammed, who his knew as Andy, was aggressive and had come to his home armed with a brick. He said he asked him to leave and there was pushing, but he denied using a key.
Asked about the following day he said Mr William had punched him and pulled him from his car. He denied using a knife.
Mr Muhedin, now of Cassio Road, Watford denies assault by beating on Hafizullh Salemohammed on 11 October, wounding his brother Patrick William with intent on 12 October and affray on 12 October.
The case continues.
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