Yousef Makki death: Pupil stabbed 'after botched drug robbery'

20 June 2019

A grammar school pupil was stabbed in the heart by his teenage friend after a botched attempt to rob a drug dealer a court heard.

Yousef Makki, 17, was killed after he and two friends arranged to buy £45 of cannabis, Manchester Crown Court heard.

After the three fled the scene, "some sort of confrontation" occurred and Yousef was stabbed, jurors were told.

A 17-year-old, referred to as Boy A in court, denies murder and conspiracy to commit robbery.

A second defendant, Boy B, also 17, denies conspiracy to rob and perverting the course of justice.

Prosecutor Nick Johnson QC told the court Boy B had arranged to meet the drug dealer on 2 March in Hale Barns, Greater Manchester.

'Took a beating'

The dealer arrived in a car with two others, but refused to hand over any cannabis when the boy said he had no money, Mr Johnson said.

Two youths got out of the car and punched Boy A, while Yousef and Boy B fled the scene, Mr Johnson said.

Boy A eventually ran away too, leaving his "very expensive" bike behind.

"Having set up the robbery, Boy B fled at the first sign of trouble, leaving Boy A to take a beating," he said.

"That in itself would be a fairly good reason for them to fall out... [and] Boy A's expensive bike had been thrown over a hedge."

Later on, security patrol officer Michael Bowman saw the trio having "some form of altercation" and decided to intervene, the court heard.

He said Boy A told him: "I need your help, my mate's been stabbed."

The court heard Boy B called an ambulance while Yousef, who died en route to hospital, was leaning against a tree.

When police arrived both defendants said they had not seen what happened.

Boy A told officers he had acted in self-defence when Yousef "came towards" him with a knife.

"I moved my arm forwards with the knife in my hand. I think he came on to the knife which must have made things worse," said Boy A.

"In panic me and Boy B agreed to make up a story about Yousef being attacked whilst we were round the corner."

But this account was not "anything like" the truth, Mr Johnson said.

Boy A has admitted a charge of perverting the course of justice and possession of a flick knife.

Boy B has pleaded guilty to possession of a flick knife.

Neither defendant can be named because they are under 18.

The trial continues.