Gang ‘shot at Mercedes before trying to murder’ driver in Walsall violence
A car was hit by gunfire before up to 10 men tried to murder its driver, a jury heard.
The Mercedes with Arqash Zaffer at the wheel was peppered with pellets as it travelled through Caldmore, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
He had hired the vehicle to look ‘cool,’ it was said.
There was a loud bang moments after another car, possibly a BMW X6, was spotted nearby, said Mr Glyn Samuel, prosecuting.
After Mr Zaffer stopped a man nicknamed Roy – alleged to be Rohail Ali, 21 – appeared holding a sawn-off shotgun, it was claimed.
“Somebody was heard to shout ‘shoot him Roy,’” maintained the prosecutor.
Then around 10 people pounced on Mr Zaffer, after he got out of the car, in Camden Street, Caldmore on March 8 last year, it was said.
Mr Samuel said: “The attack was so severe the intention of those involved must have been to kill him.
"A machete was used to strike him across the face. He was also hit on the head and back with a hammer.”
The victim suffered a broken nose, fractured eye socket and injuries to his leg and head but drove himself to hospital after his attackers had fled, the court was told.
Mr Samuel alleged that these included Ali, 20-year-old Zubair Mehmood, Amar Shazad, aged 30, and 32-year-old Mohammed Akram who all live in Walsall.
The lawyer continued: “Police investigations led to these defendants.”
Ali gave himself up and was allegedly identified as the man with the gun.
The other three were also supposedly picked out by witnesses.
Ali was remanded in custody and before being granted bail made recorded phone calls from jail to Mehmood, said Mr Samuel, who explained: “They talked in Punjabi, which has been translated. They were trying to devise a false account of what happened.”
Ali from Rutter Street, Mehmood of Arundel Street, Shazad from Victor Street and Akram of Primley Avenue, each denies attempting to murder Mr Zaffer and possession of a shotgun.
Shazad pleads not guilty to possession of a machete and Akram denies possession of a hammer or similar blunt instrument.
The case continues.
