Birmingham murder trial told a drugs line buyer was kicked to death by dealers after a text message

A drugs line customer died after being repeatedly kicked by two drug dealers in a street attack near his home, a murder trial has heard.

Jurors were told 53-year-old Craig Dean died in hospital two days after suffering serious injuries in the Kings Heath area of Birmingham.

Hamza Khan, 23, from Anderton Park Road, Moseley, and Mohammed Rahman, 25, from Mapleton Grove, Hall Green, both deny murder and an alternative count of manslaughter.

Opening the case against both men at Birmingham Crown Court, prosecutor Matthew Brook KC alleged that the murder occurred after the defendants and their alleged victim had argued during an exchange of text messages.

Mr Brook told the court: “On July 7 last year these two defendants were driving around the streets of Birmingham selling drugs.

“One of their customers was a man called Craig Dean, who most people called Yankee.

“During the afternoon of July 7 an argument developed between the defendants and Craig Dean, as they sent text messages between each other.”

At 4.49pm, the court heard Mr Dean was outside his house in Springfield Road, when the defendants arrived in a black Vauxhall Corsa.

'Both defendants attacked Craig Dean'

Mr Brook said: “Both defendants got out of the car and both defendants attacked Craig Dean.

“That attack included kicking him numerous times whilst he lay on the ground.

“The defendants then walked back to their car and drove off, leaving Craig Dean as he lay seriously injured on the floor.

“Despite the medical care which Craig Dean received he could not be saved and he died two days later in hospital, having never regained consciousness.

“The prosecution allege that both defendants are guilty of murder.

“They deny that.

“Whilst both defendants accept being present during a violent incident with Craig Dean, they say he was the aggressor and they were acting in lawful self-defence.”

The opening of the trial was also told the incident was not caught on CCTV, but was witnessed by several passers-by.

Mr Brook said it was not in dispute that Khan was driving the Corsa, while Rahman was the front seat passenger.

The Crown’s KC told the jury that the two men were operating a drugs line called Ace, through which callers ordered drugs to their homes.

Mr Dean, who was found with wraps of heroin and crack cocaine in his hand, had told his partner that Ace was angry with him because someone had ordered drugs from them and then gone to a different dealer, the court heard.

The trial continues.