Elland murder trial told of fatal struggle

Apr 30 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A FRIEND of Billy Khan has described the moment when he claims to have seen him fatally stabbed during a street disturbance in Elland last summer.

Fraser Bland, who lived above the 33-year-old in Charles Street, told a jury at Bradford Crown Court yesterday how he had been in his flat last August when he heard a commotion outside.

When he looked out of his window he said he could see 51-year-old Mohammed Farooq exchanging words with Billy Khan and his brother Yusuf in the road.

Mr Bland said suddenly he saw another man run down a path with what appeared to be something up his sleeve.

As he watched from the window with two friends, Mr Bland said the man, who the prosecution say was Farooq’s 40-year-old brother Miftah Ul-Haq, “stuck the nut” on Billy.

As the four men scuffled Farooq was swung on to the ground after he grabbed Yusuf Khan’s coat.

Mr Bland said Yusuf Khan ran off and was chased out of sight by Farooq.

He then alleged he saw 33-year-old Billy Khan being held in a headlock as the other man pulled back his left arm and moved it forward in a “stabbing motion” once.

“When he had Billy in a headlock he did that and he must have known because Billy’s body went limp,” said Mr Bland.

“He’s let go of him. Then he’s run away down the same way.

“Billy staggered over ... and he’s just collapsed over the wall.”