Burglars fatally stabbed man at wrong flat, jury told

Mark Noke was stabbed at his flat in Warburton Road in Southampton

A group of burglars stabbed a man to death after targeting the wrong flat in a planned drugs and jewellery raid, a court has heard.

Mark Noke, 64, suffered a fatal stab wound to his right lung when he opened the door of his flat in Warburton Road, Southampton, on 25 February 2023.

Adam Vaitilingam KC, prosecuting, said the intended target had been a nearby neighbour, who had posted images of his valuables on social media.

Five men from Southampton are on trial charged with murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to commit robbery, and two other men have also been charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.

Mr Vaitilingam told the jury at Winchester Crown Court that a group of men "forced their way" into Mr Noke's apartment.

"They were wearing masks, one threatened him with a gun and one plunged a knife into his chest, penetrating his lung, and that wound was fatal," he said.

"The prosecution case is that these men had gone to that flat to commit a robbery, they were expecting to find drugs, cash and jewellery, but they had by mistake gone to the wrong flat."

He said the group had been aiming for number 157, but accidentally went to 147.

"[Mr Noke] was threatened and stabbed, and because he wasn't the person they were looking for and didn't have the valuables, they left empty-handed," said Mr Vaitilingam.

Mr Noke's 999 call was played to the jury, during which he could be heard saying he could "hardly breathe" and was "passing out".

Kieran Claffey, 29, Leighton Tabone, 24, Bradley O'Dell, 22, Aaron Morgan, 32, and Justin Roach, 40, all from Southampton, are charged with murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to commit robbery.

Harley Wilson, 20, and Daniel Bull, 30, are charged with conspiracy to commit robbery.

Mr Vaitilingam said Mr Bull had seen his intended target had cash and jewellery in his flat, and had then discussed with Wilson about carrying out a robbery at the address and contacted the other defendants.

The trial continues.