Man died after broken ankle in West End attack - court

The incident happened on Shaftesbury Avenue in the early hours of 1 June, the court was told

A 22-year-old man died seven weeks after he suffered a broken ankle during a street attack in London's West End, a court has heard.

Taha Errami was injured during the incident in Shaftesbury Avenue in the early hours of 1 June and died on 23 July.

Malachi Wilson, 32, Devonta Rose, 20, and Dennis Kaantharasan, 25, appeared via video link at the Old Bailey accused of his murder.

No pleas were entered during the preliminary hearing and they were remanded in custody until their next court appearance in November.

During the hearing, the court was told there was an initial altercation involving Mr Wilson before passers-by, Mr Rose and Mr Kaantharasan, joined in.

Mr Errami reported the incident to police and said he had been punched and stamped on during the attack, which was not captured by CCTV cameras, it was heard.

He declined an ambulance and took himself to St Thomas's Hospital for treatment for a broken ankle.

On 6 July, he was travelling into London on a train when he became very unwell and was taken to St Mary's Hospital unresponsive and in cardiac arrest.

He was pronounced dead on 23 July from complications allegedly associated with the fractured ankle, including deep vein thrombosis.

'Unclear motive'

The three defendants were arrested on 13 August and charged with murder.

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC told the court that local police had been investigating the incident as a suspected robbery but the motive behind the assault was "unclear".

Judge Trowler set a plea hearing for 4 November and a provisional three-week trial from 19 May next year.