TWO men are on trial in Oxford after a brawl broke out in court as guilty murder verdicts were read, causing a line of police to block off the entrance.
Officers surrounded and blocked off access to Reading Crown Court in March last year as the jury returned guilty verdicts in the murder trial of 24-year-old Mohammed Rafaqit Kayani who died from a fatal stab wound to the chest during an incident in Keel Drive in August, 2022.
On April 3, 2023, Riaz Miah, 21, of no fixed abode, and Hassan Al-Kubanji, 22, of Peabody Avenue, London were jailed for life to serve minimum terms of 24 and 23 years respectively.
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When the verdicts were read out at about 2.20pm, an eyewitness described the defendants beginning to shout as well as people in the public gallery ‘banging’ on the dock window.
It was heard that threats were made to the jury who were ‘climbing over their desks’ to leave the room.
There was also an incident that occurred outside on the steps leading up to court but another eyewitness added that the ‘scuffle’ didn’t last long.
Access to the court was blocked off for almost an hour.
At the time, Thames Valley Police confirmed the ‘disturbance’ and said two people were arrested, one on suspicion of a public order offence and the other on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.
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Now, Hussain Al-Kubanji, 21, of Peabody Avenue, London, and Reuben Gabriel, 21, are on trial at Oxford Crown Court charged in connection with the incident.
Al-Kubanji faces one count of assault by beating of an officer, obstructing an officer, and using threatening/abusive words/behaviour.
Gabriel faces one count of assault by beating of an officer and one count obstructing an officer.
The trial is due to conclude this week with the jury retiring on Thursday (August 8), with the defence being one of self-defence.
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Speaking ahead of the sentencing of Miah and Al-Kubanji in March, Judge Heather Norton, who was praised for her handling of the brawl in court, said: “I make it clear that that the disorder and the defendants part in it play no part in my sentencing decision today.”
Precautions were made ahead of the March sentencing as a result of the incident. Several police officers were present in court and the defendants appeared via a video link rather than being brought into the dock.
A third man, Miguel Parian John, 41, of Concorde Way, Slough, was also found guilty of assisting an offender by hiding the blades involved in the incident.
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