Clash between two groups before Luke O'Connell stabbed, jury told

A murder trial is underway after Luke O’Connell, 26, was stabbed following a three car crash in Gammons Lane, Watford, on August 31 at 3.30am last year.

Eight men have been charged, seven of whom have been accused of murder and one of assisting an offender.

• Aamir Mustafa, 22, of no fixed address, charged with murder
• Shahnavaz Azad, 27, of no fixed address, charged with murder
• Umar Sarfraz, 21, of Whippendell Road, Watford - charged with murder
• Mohammed Haroon Azad, 21, no fixed address - charged with murder
• Mohammed Hamza Shah, 20 of Hagden Lane, Watford - charged with murder
• Hamza Azad, 23, of Nicholas Close, Watford - charged with murder
• Mohammed Hussnain, 24, of St. Georges Road, Watford - charged with murder
• Mohammed Raja Azad, 48, of Nicholas Close, Watford - charged with assisting an offender

The court last Friday (March 13) heard that a few hours before the crash, Mr O’Connell had been drinking with friends in Harrow and had driven back with Jake Mooney, James Flannery and a woman called Danielle.

Stabbing victim Luke O'Connell. Photo: family handout

On the way back, Luke O’Connell had taken turns driving a Volkswagen Golf with a man called Ryan Higgins.

When Mr Higgins was behind the wheel driving in Watford, the court was told that he drove past a Vauxhall Corsa when he turned around and came back and spoke out of a passenger window.

Prosecutor Kate Bex said the conversation was described a “what's up, f*** you” exchange.

Mark Harries, defending, told the court Mr Higgins was “hyped up on alcohol” and “was in an aggressive mood after seeing a car he had a problem with”.

Mr Mooney, who appeared in court, said that only a few words were exchanged, and he was not sure who spoke first or what was said.

Defence lawyer Mr Harries said Mr Mooney saw a knife inside the Golf but claimed it was not shown to the occupants in the Corsa.

Mr Mooney said he chose not to discuss with anyone why there had been a knife in the car.

The scene of the stabbing in Gammons Lane, Watford. Photo: James Cowen

Following the exchange, Mr Higgins dropped Mr Flannery home near Gammons Lane – and soon after took Mr Mooney back to Mr Flannery's house, so he could get some money he had left there.

But as he was going to get back into the Golf, it sped away because the Corsa had just driven past, Mr Harries said.

Mr Mooney said: “After I left James’ front door I was going to get back into the Golf, but Ryan (Mr Higgins) just drove off. It looked as if he was being chased.”

Andreanna Tait, who lives in Gammons Lane, told Harrow Crown Court that she woke up after hearing a “loud crash” outside her house.

After getting out of bed and looking out of her window, she saw a “smash” between a Volkswagen Golf and a blue Vauxhall Corsa.

Following the crash, Mrs Tait said she saw one man of Asian descent “with what looked like a crowbar or bat” hit the windscreen of the Golf no less than four times.

The scene of the stabbing in Gammons Lane, Watford. Photo: James Cowen

She told the court: “It somehow looked like he was in charge.

“There was lots of shouting and I was aware of others at the scene.

“I called police and left the window until I saw neighbours go outside.

“When I went out I saw blood and heard someone shout ‘I’m bleeding out’ twice, but I couldn’t see who it was.”

Ken Goldsmith, who also lives in Gammons Lane, was also awoken by the crash. Speaking in court, he said he saw two cars that had been in a collision and that four or five men surrounded one of the cars.

He said: “It looked like they were smashing it up and it looked like they were trying to damage the car.”

The scene of the stabbing in Gammons Lane, Watford. Photo: James Cowen

He confirmed in court that it looked like the men were hitting the car with a “chopping motion”.

After speaking to his wife Gillian, who called police, Mr Goldsmith says he saw four men run off down the road towards a Londis shop.

Mrs Goldsmith, who was also speaking in court, said she saw five men.

She said one of the men, who had been standing further away from the cars, looked as “if he did not know what to do” and had a “stony face with no expression”.

The trial continues.