Friend feared for man's safety before Hartlepool stabbing

A woman feared for her friend's safety before he was stabbed by his murder-accused housemate, a court has heard.

Abigail Harrison befriended Javed Nouri at a church in Hartlepool in the weeks before he was attacked by his fellow asylum seeker Ahmed Alid, Teesside Crown Court heard.

After Mr Nouri fought back, Mr Alid went into the street and killed Terence Carney, 70, prosecutors allege.

Moroccan national Mr Alid denies murder and attempted murder.

The court has heard Mr Alid and Mr Nouri lived at a hostel for asylum seekers with two other men on Wharton Street in Hartlepool.

In the early hours of 15 October, Mr Alid, who the court has heard followed an "extreme interpretation of Islam", forced his way into Mr Nouri's room and launched a vicious attack with a kitchen knife on the sleeping man.

Mr Alid repeatedly shouted "Allahu Akbah" which means "God is great" in Arabic while attempting to stab Christian convert Mr Nouri, prosecutors have said.

'Threatening with death'

Mr Nouri, an Iranian national who was 31 at the time, suffered six wounds but was able to force Mr Alid out of his room.

Mr Alid then went into the street and stabbed Mr Carney, who was out for an early morning walk.

The pro-Palestinian accused later told police he carried out the attacks in protest of Israel and the Gaza conflict.

Ms Harrison told jurors she met Mr Nouri at her Baptist church in August 2023 and the two became friends.

She said he wanted to help people and provided "muscle" to deliver items including beds and fridges to those in need.

The pair exchanged messages in which Mr Nouri complained of Mr Alid, who Ms Harrison had not met, and claimed he was "threatening us with death".

'Call for help'

Mr Nouri said one of Mr Alid's complaints was that the other three housemates would have alcohol in the house.

Ms Harrison said she was "scared for [Mr Nouri's] safety" and advised him to contact police without delay.

Baptist deacon Ian Thompson told jurors he accompanied Mr Nouri to Hartlepool Police Station on 9 and 13 October, the second time having been requested so a Farsi interpreter could assist via phone.

He said an officer was told Mr Alid was carrying a knife around the house and being threatening, but replied there was "no crime committed because [Mr Alid's] in his own house".

Mr Thompson said the officer suggested he would speak to the hostel's managers and advise a second fridge be provided for the housemates to keep alcohol in away from Mr Alid.

Mr Nouri also complained to the hostel's housing officers with Mr Alid subsequently warned about his behaviour, the court has heard,

On 15 October Ms Harrison was in bed when she received a 20 second phone call at about 05:00 from Mr Nouri who sounded "panicked" and was asking her to "come now" and "help" him.

Ms Harrison said she called 999 then went to the house on Wharton Street, but by the time she arrived police officers and an ambulance were already in attendance.

Mr Nouri previously told jurors Mr Alid would carry a knife and threatened his housemates over their religious differences.

'Shocked and scared'

Their housemate Mohammed Karimi said Mr Alid, with whom he had lived for about two years, was "always alone" and "really really religious".

In a police interview recorded on 15 October and shown to jurors, Mr Karimi said Mr Nouri was a "really nice guy" who had tried to befriend Mr Alid after moving into the house about three months before the attack.

He said both he and Mr Nouri had been Muslims who converted to Christianity and Mr Alid would regularly "curse" at them "like we are the devil".

Mr Karimi said Mr Alid would criticise him for drinking beer and having a girlfriend and did not like anyone who was "not Muslim".

Mr Karimi, who was also from Iran, said: "I could ignore that but Javed couldn't."

Mr Karimi said there were Muslims who were "really nice" and had "no problem" with people not being Islamic, but there were others like Mr Alid who "don't like it" and "just want to force you to be Muslim".

They also argued about Mr Alid's lack of cleanliness, Mr Karimi said.

He was awoken by the sounds of the attack and ran to Mr Nouri's room where he saw the two men grappling.

Mr Karimi said he was "very shocked and scared" and there was "blood everywhere".

He said he called the police and Mr Alid fled out into the street with a knife.

Mr Alid also denies two counts of assaulting police officers after his arrest.

The trial continues.

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