Murder suspects were excited at being armed with knives, court hears
Two teenagers from the Black Country accused of killing a Polish man in the street were excited about being armed with knives and intent on stabbing the first person they came across, a court heard.
Lukasz Furmanek, aged 24, died and Radoslaw Dudek was left clinging to life after both were stabbed in Handsworth.
Abdullah Atiqzoy, 18, of Elizabeth Crescent, Oldbury and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, each deny murder and attempted murder. Feizullah Atiqzoy, 24, of Swan Crescent, Oldbury, has pleaded not guilty to assisting an offender.
Giving evidence at Birmingham Crown Court, Abdullah Atiqzoy claimed he and the youth were attacked by Mr Furmanek and Mr Dudek and he received a punch to his jaw. Abdullah admitted to having a knife in his pocket but denied using it.
CCTV footage prior to the stabbings in Grove Lane in May showed Abdullah crouching down at which point he was alleged to have took a knife from his sock, though the defendant claimed he was tying his shoelace. He was also seen swinging his arm out, which the prosecution suggested was a 'practice slash' for what would happen later.
Mr John Butterfield, prosecuting, said: "That was a practice slash of a knife, wasn't it? It was a performance to show (the boy) what you were prepared to do.
"He was enthusiastic, a willing audience. Was it because you were pumped up about the weapons you were carrying? I suggest the two of you were thrilled, excited about the prospect of knife violence and were sharing the excitement of being armed." The accusations were denied by the defendant.
After Abdullah confirmed Mr Furmanek and Mr Dudek were the first people they encountered, Mr Butterfield said: "Is it that you had the intention to confront the first people you came across, certainly the first men you came across?" Again, the defendant answered 'no'.
The 18-year-old also said the two Polish men crossed the road towards them rather than both sets of men walking towards each other, which is alleged by the prosecution.
The jury previously heard how a friend of Abdullah and the 16-year-old told police the pair had confessed to murdering a Polish man during a meeting in a Birmingham park a day later.
The trial continues.
