Halifax murder trial: Men stabbed after nightclub row

Joshua Clark, left, and Haidar Shah died after a stabbing in Halifax on 1 October

Three men were stabbed after a row broke out over a woman in a Halifax nightclub, a court has heard.

Joshua Clark, 21, and Haidar Shah, 19, died and a third man was injured in the attacks outside Maggie's on Commercial Street on 1 October 2023.

Rashane Douglas, 19, of Huddersfield, denies murder and attempted murder but has admitted possession of a knife.

Yaseen Iqbal, 18, is also on trial at Bradford Crown Court charged with assisting an offender.

Mr Douglas, of Jade Place, was told at the hearing on Monday he faces two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. He also faces an alternative charge of wounding with intent.

Both defendants appeared in the dock on the first day of their trial as the court was shown CCTV from the night the men died.

The stabbing took place near Maggie's nightclub, where the group had been on a night out

Prosecuting, Mark McKone KC said an argument broke out when Mr Douglas arrived at Maggie's nightclub at about 02:00 only to find that a woman he had been expecting to meet was already with Haidar Shah.

Mr Douglas confronted the pair who were sitting in a booth. He pulled Mr Shah's arm away from the woman and replaced it with his own, despite her appearing to tell him not to.

Later that night, after the woman had gone home, a fight broke out outside the club and Mr Shah was stabbed, along with his friends Jordan Clark and Brandon Coupe.

Mr Clark died in hospital shortly after the attack and Mr Shah died later that evening. Mr Coupe survived his injuries.

The court was shown CCTV from the club, and from outside as the stabbing took place.

Knife down drain

Mr Coupe was seen pushing Mr Douglas, before they crossed the street and Mr Douglas was seen shouting at Mr Coupe, Mr Shah and Mr Clark.

Shortly afterwards Mr Douglas was seen pulling a knife from behind him and attacking the three men.

Mr Clark and Mr Shah are seen falling to the floor, and Mr Douglas can be seen running from the scene.

Witnesses described seeing Mr Douglas put the knife back in his pocket after the stabbing, which one said took "a minute, max".

CCTV was then shown to the court which showed Mr Douglas running down a nearby street and appearing to drop the knife down a drain. A sound is heard as an object hits the water.

Police later recovered the weapon from a drain on New Road, near Union Street.

The prosecution allege Mr Iqbal helped Mr Douglas leave Halifax after the stabbing, and let him stay at his house.

Judge Jonathan Rose adjourned the hearing until Tuesday, when the case will continue.