Exclusive:Man initially charged with attempted murder after Cosham stabbing tells court victim was the aggressor

A man who found himself at the centre of a brawl that led to another being stabbed says the victim was the aggressor in the dispute.

Abdul and Attiquallah Shinwari are on trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, accused of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm after a stabbing in Hawthorn Crescent on March 12 this year. The former is also charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place. They both deny all charges.

Abdul, 20 from Alma Road, Southampton, was a student at the Highbury campus of the City of Portsmouth College at the time. Attiquallah, 23 from St Helen’s Parade, Southsea, had previously studied there. The two are not related, but appeared in the dock together.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) alleges that they were part of a group of six that attacked Sefatullah Ibrahimkhel and a friend - although they are the only two who face charges.

At Portsmouth Crown Court today (Monday, September 28), the court heard from Arif Ahmadzai, an eyewitness on the scene who was part of Abdul Shinwari’s group of friends.

Mr Ahmadzai was initially also charged with attempted murder, but the accusation was dropped after the prosecution offered no evidence, the jury was told. Taking to the witness box, Mr Ahmadzai alleged that Mr Ibrahimkhel was not only armed, but also the aggressor as a brawl between them all broke out.

Through a court interpreter, he said: “I was supposed to be in college that day, but I was injured. My head, face and eye had been bruised - I was attacked by one of his [Mr Ibrahimkhel’s] friends about four days prior. I did report it to the police, and what they did I thought they would do again.

“On the other side of the road was Setafullah, Omid Mohammedi and another of their friends, called Irfan. They were standing at the gate of the park, and Sefatullah was shouting to Abdul.

“They were angry at him, and telling him to come into the park - it looked like they were armed with sticks. That’s when Sefatullah and his friends crossed the road.

“It [the fight] was probably going on for about half a minute or so, then everyone started running. I left in the direction of the college. I did see the blood on Sefatullah, but didn’t see how it happened.”

Mr Ahmadzai later travelled to Southampton, where he met up again with Abdul Shinwari. The pair were both arrested by police, the court was told.

“When I was arrested I did a ‘no comment’ interview,” the witness added. “I said everything I needed to to my solicitor.

“It was my first time in a police station and my solicitor said I should answer ‘no comment’ because I might not understand the questions properly.”