'Victim's race didn't matter,' says murder accused

Abdulkadar Chadli was found dead last November

A former soldier accused of murder has told a court his neighbour's skin colour and religion were not issues for him.

Abdulkadar Chadli, 48, was found dead with a single stab wound to the chest at a property in Norwich in November 2024.

Elvis Vickers, 48, of Mousehold Street, described Mr Chadli as a "good friend", and when asked if his ethnicity or faith was a problem, he told the court: "Not at all."

The jury at Norwich Crown Court had previously been shown police body-worn camera footage of Mr Vickers saying society was "bowing down to Muslims" and describing the victim as a "wrong 'un" who had "pushed his luck".

Abdulkadar Chadli died from a single stab wound

Mr Vickers, giving evidence in his defence, told the jury that he was born in Preston and had left school with no qualifications before joining the army at 19.

He said he had served for about three years, and was serving in Northern Ireland during the Omagh bombing.

He was one of the first to respond and said: "I had to step over the devastation."

When asked by defence barrister Simon Spence KC about his drinking, he said he "had a problem" but had not sought help from Alcoholics Anonymous.

Drinking "just become a way of life", Mr Vickers said.

Police were called to Mousehold Street, Norwich, on 1 November last year

When asked about Mr Chadli, he said he had lived next door to him for six to seven years and the pair were "good friends".

Mr Chadli worked offshore but when he was home they would see each other "nearly every day", Mr Vickers said.

When asked by his defence barrister if the colour of Mr Chadli's skin was "a problem for you", Mr Vickers replied: "Not at all."

Following up, Mr Spence asked: "Was [the fact he was] a Muslim, practising or not, a problem for you?"

Again, Mr Vickers replied: "Not at all."

The jury had previously heard Mr Vickers had said he was "not letting these terrorists run my street" ahead of the alleged attack.

Officers who were first on the scene previously told the jury they smelt alcohol, and when prosecuting barrister Matthew Sorel-Cameron asked if his eyes were "somewhat glazed", he replied: "Yes."

The trial continues.