Terror attack on mum Samantha Matangira in Oakes home

A TERRIFIED woman was attacked in her Oakes home by an armed gang looking for her husband.

Samantha Matangira was hit with a hammer and had a knife held to her throat as the men burst into her home.

Now a 35-year-old man has gone on trial accused of taking part in the terrifying robbery at the house in Huddersfield.

Dondy Fonkwa is alleged to have been one of four men who travelled to West Yorkshire last September looking for the husband of Mrs Matangira.

Prosecutor Stephen Wood said when the men arrived at the family’s home in Burniston Drive, Oakes, the mum-of-two opened the door because she feared that it would be smashed in.

Mrs Matangira said her husband Clay was not there, but 29-year-old Ebrima Njie pushed his way in and began punching her.

Fonkwa is alleged to have joined in the attack on Mrs Matangira while a third man, 35-year-old Kekuta Darboe, went into the living room and stole the television.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that Njie, hit Mrs Matangira with a hammer and Fonkwa allegedly put a knife against her neck.

Mr Wood said the mum, who was alone in the house with her two young sons, was terrified and at one stage one of the robbers told her they wanted the keys to the family’s £14,000 Range Rover or they would take the children.

Mrs Matangira handed over the car keys and the men left with property including the television, a Sony Playstation and her mobile phone.

Mr Wood said the victim suffered relatively minor injuries but she did have grazing and swelling to her face and mouth.

A Ford Mondeo used to travel to West Yorkshire from Portsmouth was found abandoned by the police and the stolen Range Rover was discovered two days later in Portsmouth.

Njie, from Portsmouth, and Darboe, from Manchester, have already pleaded guilty to the robbery charge, but Fonkwa, also from Portsmouth, has denied the offence.

During police interviews he denied using any violence in the house or stealing any property.

He denied having a knife with him and claimed to have tried to take the hammer off Njie.

The trial continues..