Man 'cool as cucumber' before stabbing - trial

Ahmad Mamdouh Al Ibrahim, 16, died from a single stab wound to his neck

A man accused of fatally stabbing a 16-year-old Syrian refugee in the street was as "cool as a cucumber" before the attack, a trial has heard.

Alfie Franco, 20, of Kirkburton, denies the murder of Ahmad Mamdouh Al Ibrahim, 16, in Huddersfield on 3 April.

Mr Franco has previously said he acted in self defence after the teenager brushed past his girlfriend.

However, in his closing argument at Mr Franco's trial at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Richard Wright KC said the defendant had not liked the fact that Ahmad had spoken back to him and that Mr Franco had a flick knife "ready to strike".

The jury had earlier been told there was a verbal altercation before the defendant called Ahmad over to him.

As Ahmad approached, the defendant opened the blade on a flick knife he was carrying and stabbed the teenager in the neck, the court heard.

The trial has previously been told there was no evidence that Ahmad, who was walking with a friend, was carrying any kind of weapon and was seen "behaving in a perfectly peaceful manner".

However, Mr Franco in his testimony said he was acting in self-defence as he thought he had seen the teenager going for a weapon in his waistband.

Mr Wright told the jury that Mr Franco had "carried on eating his ice cream" during the altercation, and before Ahmad had started walking back had taken the flick knife from his trousers and moved it into his pocket.

"That's why he's cool as a cucumber, because he knows something - he knows he's got a savage flick knife ready to strike when this young lad gets within striking distance," Mr Wright said.

"We say self-defence doesn't even get off the ground in this case.

"This is a case of a young man with a cocky swagger, wandering around town with his girlfriend, on drugs, who doesn't like the fact that Ahmad has spoken back to him."

The fatal stabbing happened in Huddersfield town centre in April

The jury was told that Ahmad was a refugee from Syria and his family said he came to the UK after being injured in a bombing to live with his uncle.

He had, they said, dreamed of becoming a doctor and wanted to "heal others after all he had endured".

"He chose to come to the UK because he believed in the values of human rights, safety, and dignity. He had just begun settling into his new life with his uncle, adjusting to a new language, a new home, and a future he was excited to build," they said.

"Ahmad was kind, gentle, and carried so much promise. Losing him has left an unimaginable emptiness in our hearts.

"We never thought that the place he saw as a safe haven would be where his life would end."

Mr Franco denies murder but has admitted a charge of possessing a knife in a public place.

The trial continues.

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