Hartlepool accused extremist had 'murder in mind'

Moroccan asylum seeker Ahmed Alid denies murder and attempted murder

An Islamic extremist had "murder in his mind" when he attacked two men with a knife, prosecutors have said.

Moroccan asylum seeker Ahmed Alid, 45, attacked his housemate and a man he met in the street, 70-year-old Terence Carney, in Hartlepool in October.

Mr Carney died but Mr Alid, 45, denies murder and attempted murder.

In his closing speech, prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC said the "key issue" was Mr Alid's intention when he stabbed the men.

The court has heard Mr Alid lived with three other men at a home for asylum seekers on Wharton Terrace in Hartlepool.

Prosecutors said he followed an "extreme interpretation of Islam" and objected to one of his Iranian housemates, Javed Nouri, converting to Christianity.

In the early hours of 15 October, he forced his way into Mr Nouri's bedroom and stabbed him multiple times, then fled and stabbed Mr Carney, who was out for an early morning walk, jurors have heard.

Mr Alid told police he launched the attacks in support of Palestine and to oppose Israel and the Gaza conflict.

Mr Alid has told jurors he accepted attacking the men, but did not intend to kill or seriously harm them.

Ahmed Alid is on trial for four offences, including murder and attempted murder, at Teesside Crown Court

Mr Sandiford told jurors they should consider the ferocity of the attacks and where in the body Mr Alid stabbed the men when they debated his intent.

The prosecutor said the attack on Mr Carney was "not frenzied" but "considered", with Mr Alid circling him and repeatedly stabbing him in the chest and abdomen.

Mr Sandiford said Mr Alid's motive for attacking Mr Nouri was "personal", as the defendant believed his Iranian housemate had been disrespectful and was not "cowed" by Mr Alid.

The motive for the attack on Mr Carney was the Gaza conflict and Mr Alid's belief the UK was partly responsible, Mr Sandiford said.

He said religion appeared to "have played a part", but jurors should not find against Mr Alid because of his heritage, religion or political beliefs.

Mr Sandiford said Mr Alid had been "frank" and consistent in his claims to police, which gave "an insight into his mind perhaps as clear as it could possibly be".

'Out of character'

Mr Alid told police he had intended to kill more people, Mr Sandiford said.

In his closing statement, John Elvidge KC for Mr Alid said the "focus was squarely on intent".

He said: "There is no dispute Mr Alid inflicted knife injuries to Mr Nouri and Mr Carney, and there is no dispute Mr Carney died as a result of the wounds that were inflicted."

Mr Elvidge said the prosecution had posited a theory which was in part based on what he had said to police, but that also "ignored" other statements he made to detectives.

He said patisserie chef Mr Alid arrived in Europe "illegally" from North Africa about 15 years ago and he had been "frustrated" at not being able to work as he did not have a permit.

Mr Alid had lived at the hostel in Wharton Terrace for two and a half years without incident, Mr Elvidge said, and had no previous convictions which "supported the defence case that what happened on 15 October was out of character".

He said it was agreed there was "friction" between Mr Alid and Mr Nouri but the latter was "not an altogether reliable source".

Mr Elvidge said on the morning of 15 October Mr Alid woke up "consumed by worries" but he "denies he formed the intention to kill or cause really serious harm".

The trial continues.