Man entered Ealing office to 'kill former colleague' with kitchen knife, court hears

An ex-employee has been accused of entering an Ealing office with a knife and attempting to murder a former colleague, a court has heard.

Mohammed Himedan took an eight-inch kitchen knife into Your Company Mobiles' office at 84 Uxbridge Road and attacked Lee Stalham on February 10 this year, jurors were told.

The defendant, of Fry Road, Brent, who was wearing a white shirt with jeans, pleaded not guilty at Isleworth Crown Court on Monday (October 3).

Totalling four counts, he is accused of attempted murder, wounding with intent, unlawful wounding and having an offensive weapon.

Mr Himedan, 25, worked in the West Ealing office for around a year from 2014 to December 2015, but without notice and for "no apparent reason" stopped turning up for work.

He had worked with the victim during his spell there, the court heard.

Prosecutor Peter Clement said that during that time there had been no "arguments or disputes" with staff.

'Thrust the knife in a downwards direction'

The court heard the defendant entered the second floor office with the bladed kitchen knife, the handle of which had been wrapped in cling film.

He was greeted by a colleague, who he used to work with, saying 'Mo' but did not reply and made his way towards Mr Stalham's desk.

Jurors were told Mr Himedan attacked Mr Stalham at the desk, aiming the blade towards his head and torso.

Mr Clement told the jury: "He entered at the back and went straight up to the second floor office.

"There having entered the office, without a word, he approached Lee Stalham who was working at his desk."

Jurors heard that he approached the victim from behind and "thrust the knife in a downwards direction in the direction of Mr Stalham's chest."

The victim, who was "quick to react", parried the blade but sustained deep cuts to his right arm.

The court heard the victim then fled from the scene and down the stairs, but was caught up by the defendant who continued the attack before a colleague intervened.

Mr Himedan was then detained at the scene shortly after.

'You killed my dad'

The colleague who intervened sustained a cut to his hand, the court heard, and his actions were described as "possibly lifesaving".

During the attack Mr Himedan shouted "you killed my dad", despite the defendant's father still being alive, jurors were told.

The court was shown CCTV footage of a man entering the building before the attack and then arrested, but Mr Himedan denies it is him in the footage.

Jurors were told it was a "deliberate, sustained, targeted attack", which lasted for around one minute.

The defendant was assessed by experts and is deemed to be mentally and physically fit, with "no mental health issues in this case", the court heard.

The case continues.