Exclusive:Man stabbed in Cosham was told 'one day I'll catch you' by attacker who left him fighting for his life
Abdul and Attiquallah Shinwari - who are not related - both deny attempted murder.
A man who was stabbed after being attacked by a group of six men said it was their “plan” to lure him across the road.
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.
Appearing in the witness box at Portsmouth Crown Court today (Tuesday, September 22), Mr Ibrahimkhel confirmed there was a falling out between him and Abdul Shinwari. On the day he was stabbed, he had agreed to meet with the defendant to try and reach a resolution.
Speaking to the jury, he said: “I came out of Cosham Park, some friends and I had been doing some sport at the time. Abdul Shinwari was outside the park, he was the opposite side of the road.
“Their group was all together, honestly. I was calling for them to come and talk to me, but they were ignoring me. They wanted me somewhere where people could not see us, I think. This was their plan to catch me; from the start, when I got close to them, it was nasty.
“This was a thing between me and Abdul. There was no need for other people to be involved. We needed to sit down and find a solution - that’s what I was looking for. I never wanted any sort of violence.”
Mr Ibrahimkhel explained how, while he approached Abdul Shinwari, the defendant was hurling abuse and swearing at him, as he crossed the road at Hawthorn Crescent and made his way towards the bus stop in Portsmouth Road. It was here that Mr Ibrahimkhel was stabbed.
“Abdul told me to come and talk,” he said. “He had previously said to me ‘one day I’ll catch you’ - yes, I was scared. But there are laws in this country - I didn’t know he was going to stab me. We just needed to find a solution to our problem.
“Before that, I had no problem with him. That’s why I wanted to speak to him.”