The cousin of a Somalian beaten to death after spitting in a bus told a court yesterday (Wed) one of the killers told him: 'We're not in Africa now.'
Fuad Buraleh, 19, of Clayton Road, Hayes, and relative Mahdi Jama, 20, argued with pensioner Carl Cadogan, 67, because of their 'disgusting and obnoxious' behaviour.
Cadogan, from Hanwell, is said to have rounded up his son Myles and his friends to batter Fuad to death.
Mr Jama told the Old Bailey he had spat on the floor and in Mr Cadogan's face because he had sworn at them.
'Of course I was angry. He didn't ask us nicely,' said Mr Jama.
He said his cousin, who comes from a devout Muslim family, had initially spat on the floor because he was so drunk after swigging vodka from a plastic bottle.
'He was feeling sick from drinking too much,' the Somalian said.
Cadogan then challenged the pair.
'He was cussing us. He was calling us names,' said Mahdi.
The cousin said he branded them 'f***ing Somalians' and made the remark about Africa.
'He was saying a lot of words. In my culture we are not used to old men doing that,' the cousin said.
The cousin spat on the floor before assaulting the pensioner.
'I spat at his body, his face and his leg,' he admitted.
'My excuse was the behaviour of the old man and the language he used.'
The pair got off the bus after a confrontation with Cadogan, who tried to kick them.
They went to Dean Gardens in Ealing where Somalians gather to get drunk and were there when Cadogan arrived to 'take retribution.'
Five men got out of the car in seconds,' said the Somalian.
'I thought they were police officers. One of them had a balaclava over his face. He hit me on my nose.
'It was so painful I could not see anything for a second. I knew it was serious. I ran off.
'The last time I saw my cousin he was standing to my side then he ran. After that I never saw him again.
'He was my friend and my cousin. I will never have a friend again.'
Madhi had not mentioned the specific insults Cadogan was said to have shouted on the bus when he was interviewed by police.
Asked why he said: 'I was in shock.'
The court heard the victim had been chewing the drug chat before he died in the early hours of January 26 this year.
Cadogan's son Myles, 24, from Brondesbury, and his friends Scott Baker, 21, of Long Drive, Ruislip, Lee Beavis, 26, Windermere Avenue, Eastcote, Anthony Sheehan, 22, from Northolt, and Richard O'Donoghue, 23, from Hanwell, were all members of the 'makeshift posse' behind the murder. All five men deny murder and violent disorder.
The trial continues.
