A MAN on trial for the alleged murder of a 24-year-old in Slough told the court he was ‘terrified’ of the alleged victim moments before his death.

Riaz Miah, 21, of no fixed above, along with Hassan Al-Kubanji, 21, of Peabody Avenue, London, are currently on trial charged with the death of Mohammed Rafaqit Kayani.

The 24-year-old died from a fatal stab wound to the chest during an incident in Keel Drive on August 30, 2022.

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It is the Crown’s case that Miah and Al-Kubanji were drug dealers from London and had ‘chased’ Mr Kayani from a playground in Concorde Way to the Slough Hindu Temple after an ‘altercation’ before he was ‘stabbed in the chest’ and died.

Taking to the witness stand today (February 27), Miah told the 12-strong jury that Mr Kayani had ‘pulled a knife’ on him first and was acting in ‘an aggressive manner’.

The court heard Miah, who has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply, had been in Slough drug dealing for the ‘Avon line’ when the incident happened. He said he and Al-Kubanji had been in the park off Concorde Way ‘just chilling’.

He said: “The first thing I remember happened was I looked up and noticed two people standing by the top of the steps – only one of them came down.

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“[Mr Kayani] came down and he started sort of crouching – it’s like he was almost creeping.

“He shouted, ‘What the f**** you doing round here?’ That’s taken us back [sic]. I said, ‘I didn’t know this was your area, it’s cool’. I didn’t want no problems [sic] – I just wanted to get out of the situation.”

Miah then told the court Mr Kayani had continued to shout, walking towards him and Al-Kubanji before pulling out a sword.

“He just wasn’t trying to take it in at all, everything we were saying,” he said. “He was in a really aggressive manner [sic].

“His hand was in his pocket…and pulled out the sword. I was terrified.”

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Miah then said he had pulled out his own machete, which he had bought for £15 earlier that week as someone had told him ‘Slough was rough’ and he was worried about being robbed.

“I thought if I took it out and he saw another knife he would think it wasn’t a good idea,” Miah said.

He said he never intended to use the knife. The trial continues.