Double-murder accused feared Leeds housemates were 'going to kill him', court hears
A man accused of butchering his two housemates, one of which was his landlord, was in fear for his own life from the men, it was claimed.
Robert Jean is on trial at Leeds Crown Court over the deaths of Khaja Raisoddin Mohammed and Abdullah Mirzada, both of whom were found brutally stabbed to death at the Hill Top Mount property in Harehills in September last year.
The prosecution opened the case on Monday afternoon, telling the jury that Jean is forensically linked to the two knives thought to have been used to kill 53-year-old Mr Mirzada and 65-year-old Mr Mohammed.
There is also CCTV footage that shows Jean chasing Mr Mirzada from the house while clutching a long knife moments before the victim was found dying in the street.
But in a brief statement made by his defence barrister, Frida Hussain KC told the jury that Jean claims the two men “threatened to physically attack him”.
She added: “During the course of this, he inflicted injuries on both of them - in self defence. He feared they were going to kill him.
“He denies he intended to kill or serious harm to either of them.”
The court was told that Mali-born Jean had lived at the shared four-storey end-terrace home with the two deceased men and two other men.
Mr Mohammed, who was known locally as “Uncle”, had rented the full house from a family and sub-let the rooms to the four single tenants.
Mr Mohammed would provide out-of-work Jean with food and encourage him to find a job, which often led to arguments between them.
The day before the murders, Jean had told a local supermarket owner - whom he used to work for - that “Uncle was doing his head in” because he was demanding late rent money.
Shortly after 11am on Saturday, September 30 last year, a call was made to police by a resident that a man - Mr Mirzada - was laid motionless in the street.
He was found by police with multiple stab wounds and died minutes later. They also found Mr Mohammed with multiple stab wounds and a fractured skull in the basement of the house.
He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Jean was found sat on the pavement by officers when they arrived on the scene.
He claimed a man had come to the house and attacked him and the other men, but then appeared to say “they attack me every day” and confessed it was someone in the house who had caused an injury to his hand.
The trial continues and is expected to last two weeks.