Man murdered 'over car accident'

May 10 2007 By Ross McCarthy, Birmingham Mail

A MAN involved in a dispute over compensation for a car accident was stabbed to death outside his Birmingham home in a carefully organised attack, it has been alleged in court.

Shanwaz Ali, aged 23, who had just got out of his car, died almost immediately after suffering massive injuries when he was twice stabbed in the back, the city's crown court was told.

Muddassir Zaman, 19, and Mohammed Shakil, 17, both of Sandway Gardens, Washwood Heath, have both denied murdering Mr Ali on January 26 last year.

Timothy Raggatt QC, prosecuting, said the precise reason for the killing may never be known.

But he said there were certain indicators which might suggest a motive.

One of those was a car accident which had led to a simmering dispute between Mr Ali, son of a local Labour Party activist, and Zaman with demands being made for compensation and recompense for the collision.

He said that a threatening note had later been recovered demanding that he pay up or else.

Mr Raggatt said Zaman believed that Mr Ali had shown disrespect.

The victim had also been involved in another unresolved dispute with a friend of Zaman's over a house and a dowry following an arranged marriage which was part and parcel of a picture of hostility towards him.

Whatever the exact motive, it was clear there was a background of "bad blood" in particular between him and Zaman.

As well as the defendants there may well have been two others involved in the killing, one of whom had fled the country, after it was decided that Mr Ali should be brought to account.

Mr Raggatt said at around 1am on January 26, Mr Ali got out of his car after arriving at his home in Oakwood Road, Sparkhill, where there was a confrontation between him and two men.

His brother then heard Mr Ali scream and when he looked out of an upstairs bedroom window, he saw him lying next to his car and two men beside him.

Mr Ali was pronounced dead after being rushed to hospital.

(Proceeding)