Trust Gangata attacked with three knives at Leeds party, court hears

Trust Gangata, 17, died in hospital in March shortly after being stabbed several times

A 17-year-old boy who was fatally stabbed at a house party in Leeds was set upon by three men armed with knives, a court has been told.

Trust Gangata died after the attack at a house in Salisbury Road, Armley, in the early hours of 19 March.

A witness told police that Trust was slashed with a "Rambo-style" knife and two "large" blades, a jury heard.

Paul Mbwasse, 19, Karlson Ogie, 19, Karl Belinga, 19, and Brandon Paradzai, 20, all deny a charge of murder.

The prosecution previously told Leeds Crown Court that Trust's murder was a case of "mistaken identity", with the teenager not the intended target.

Mr Belinga, of Brendon Walk, Bradford, Mr Mbwasse, of Walpole Road, Huddersfield, Mr Ogie, of Bierley House Avenue, Bradford, and Mr Paradzai, of Coleshill Way, Bradford, had gone to the party to "avenge" an earlier attack on Mr Belinga, the jury had heard.

The stabbing took place at a house party on Salisbury Road in Armley

In court on Friday, transcripts of police interviews with Mr Belinga were read out.

He was told by officers a female witness reported being in the kitchen with about 15 others when "three males burst in" and attacked Trust.

"I never went in the kitchen. Them two went in the kitchen - Karlson and Paul," Mr Belinga replied to police.

Discussing the witness's account during his interview, an officer asked Mr Belinga: "She's saying that three knives were there. Can you say anything about that?"

Mr Belinga said to the officer: "I had no knife on me. Karlson and Paul were the only ones to go in the kitchen. They both had knives, not me."

The witness also said people had attempted to escape through a kitchen window during the attack, the jury heard.

'Threaten and intimidate'

The court later heard the transcript of a police interview with Mr Paradzai.

During that interview, he agreed he was the driver of a Toyota Yaris which was used to carry the defendants to the scene of the attack.

He told police he "stood outside" during the incident and he only intended to "threaten and intimidate" those who had assaulted Mr Belinga earlier in the night.

Mr Paradzai told police there were "100 people" at the party at its height.

When a close friend messaged Mr Paradzai to ask why he handed himself in to police, he replied: "I've got to live with it, fam.

"I should have trusted my instinct and turned around."

A message to Mr Paradzai later said: "As if they've got the wrong guy."

The trial continues.