‘I felt like a coward’: Murder accused says he ‘just stood there’ after man was stabbed to death, trial hears

A man accused of murder has told a court he ‘felt like a coward’ and ‘just stood there’ as Sadiq Al-Lami ‘screamed in agony’ after being stabbed at a set of traffic lights.

Sultan Bakr, 22, is one of five men on trial for the murder of Sadiq Al-Lami, 30, who died after being stabbed on Kingsway in East Didsbury in the early hours of January 23.

Mr Bakr, Sikander Babar, 24, his brother, Abdul Babar, 19, Noraiz Kamal, 18, and Yousaf Ahmed, 24, all deny the charge.

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Minshull Street Crown Court was told Mr Al-Lami was behind the wheel of a grey Mercedes E220 when a black Mercedes C200 containing the five men parked next to him at the lights.

Mr Al-Lami and the men from the other car got out following a ‘high speed pursuit’, the jury was told. An altercation broke out and Mr Al-Lami was stabbed 11 times and was left to die on the road after his alleged attackers fled the scene, the trial heard.

Giving evidence today (July 11) Mr Bakr, of Hyde Road, Gorton, said he ‘froze’ after seeing Mr Al-Lami lying on the floor ‘screaming in agony’ after being stabbed by Mr Abdul Babar during a ‘scuffle’.

Asked by Mr Imran Shafi KC whether he went to help Mr Al-Lami, Mr Bakr told the jury: “I panicked. I was scared everything went into slow motion. I couldn't feel my legs. I just stood there. I felt like a coward, yes, but what else could I do?”

Recalling the hours preceding the alleged attack on Mr Al-Lami, Mr Bakr said he was picked up near his home address on the night of January 22 by the group of men and that they went to get nitrous oxide balloons from a takeaway in Rusholme.

Mr Bakr said he had not met Mr Kamal, who was driving, or Mr Ahmed, but knew the other