Murder accused claims he stabbed man outside Sheffield's Cineworld in self-defence

Sheffield Crown Court heard during the start of a trial today, Monday, December 2, how Noel Ramsey, 22, of Nottingham Street, Burngreave, Sheffield, has pleaded not guilty to murdering 22-year-old Fahim Hersi after a confrontation at Centertainment, at Meadowhall, Sheffield, on Friday, September 21, 2018.

Prosecuting barrister David Brooke said there was bad feeling between a friend of Mr Hersi’s, Osman Jama, and Mr Ramsey and violence broke out in the car park at the front of the cinema and Mr Hersi was fatally stabbed.

Layton Morris, who was among Mr Ramsey’s friends, is also accused of helping to get Mr Ramsey away and removing the knife from the scene, according to Mr Brooke.

The court heard Mr Ramsey suffered an injury to his left leg and Mr Hersi was fatally stabbed and there was blood from both outside the cinema.

Mr Ramsey claims he had acted in self-defence, according to Mr Brooke.

Mr Brooke added: “He admits stabbing Fahim Hersi. He claims now that it was in lawful self-defence or accidental and he denies intending really serious harm.”

Both Mr Ramsey and his friends and Mr Hersi and his friends had crossed paths at the cinema by coincidence, according to Mr Brooke, when they had both been going to see the same gangster film The Intent 2.

Two friends of Mr Hersi said they came out of the cinema after they had become aware of a commotion, according to Mr Brooke.

Mr Brooke added: “They ran to the area and saw Fahim Hersi face down on the ground between two parked cars in a pool of blood.

“When they turned him over they saw his chest covered in blood and he was gasping for air and he had a big wound in his chest.”

The court heard Mr Hersi suffered a stab wound to his chest and through his heart and his friends took him to Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Mr Brooke said Mr Ramsey went to the same hospital with a stab wound to his left leg before he was arrested and refused to answer questions.

Mr Brooke said: “He now says he did stab Fahim Hersi but he acted in lawful self-defence after he was attacked first by Osman Jama and Fahim Hersi.

“He said he picked up the knife and was holding it when Mr Hersi came to attack him and he ran on to the knife.”

Following the incident, Mr Brooke said Layton Morris, 22, of Ferrars Road, Tinsley, Sheffield, was seen reaching for a bin where the knife was found.

Mr Morris claimed Mr Ramsey was stabbed by a knife brought by others and he had wanted to keep it away from them.

Mr Ramsey has pleaded not guilty to murder and Mr Morris has pleaded not guilty to assisting Mr Ramsey by getting rid of the knife.

The trial continues.