Abdul and Attiquallah Shinwari - who are not related - both deny attempted murder.

The friend of a man who was stabbed in Cosham had been told to expect a fight at some point, a jury has been told.

Abdul and Attiquallah Shinwari are on trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, accused of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm after a stabbing in Hawthorn Crescent on March 12 this year. The former is also charged with possession of a bladed article in a public place. They both deny all charges.

Police at the junction of Portsmouth Road and Hawthorn Crescent in Cosham, after a man was stabbed on March 12. | Marcin Jedrysiak

Abdul, 20 from Alma Road, Southampton, was a student at the Highbury campus of the City of Portsmouth College at the time. Attiquallah, 23 from St Helen’s Parade, Southsea, had previously studied there. The two are not related, but appeared in the dock together.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) alleges that they were part of a group of six that attacked Sefatullah Ibrahimkhel and a friend - although they are the only two who face charges.

As the second week of the trial got underway a Portsmouth Crown Court today (Monday, September 21), the jury continued to hear evidence from Omid Mohammedi, the friend who was with Mr Ibrahimkhel that day. The pair had travelled up to Cosham on the bus, from Southsea.

Mr Mohammedi told the court that Abdul Shinwari had warned him that violence was on the horizon, after a falling out between the friendship group.

He said: “There was a fight with Abdul before. He swore he would not leave me alone and that he would hurt me.

“[When we met in Cosham] It started with talking. They were angry, but it was not a fight. They were having this argument for about 90 seconds, then the fighting started.

“I have never known my friend to have a fight with anyone.”

The court was shown stills from dash cam footage of the scene, which appeared to show Mr Mohammedi carrying a weapon of his own, namely a stick. He confirmed to the jury that he had brought it with him “for self-defence”, and that he dropped it when he was chased away by Abdul Shinwari - after Mr Ibrahimkhel had been stabbed.

He said: “I had a stick for self-defence, and I left it by the park. Atiquallah Shinwari was holding Sefatullah when Abdul stabbed him, that’s when I ran. Abdul said to me, ‘I will kill you today’.

“The ambulance took my friend away, and there was a knife on the ground. I moved it to the side with a stick, then told police where it was.”

(Proceeding)