Reagan Asbury murder trial hears how boxing doctor tried to save teenager

Dr Sultan Hassan rushed to the aid of Reagan Asbury after the 19-year-old was stabbed as a violent brawl erupted at Walsall Town Hall.

Jurors heard how Mr Asbury stumbled towards the medic, before collapsing to the ground.

In a statement read to Birmingham Crown Court, Dr Hassan said: “As the patient [Mr Asbury] walked towards me, he started to fall to his knees.

“The person holding him was saying he had been stabbed. [There was a] very large pool of blood on the floor.”

Title fight

Prosecutors allege Tyrone Andrew murdered Mr Asbury, from Pelsall, by plunging a knife into his neck from behind while outside the town hall on October 14 last year.

Spectators had filled the Leicester Street hall for the IBF Youth World Lightweight title between local man Luke Paddock and Derby-based Myron Mills.

Dr Hassan, chief medical officer for the British Boxing Board of Control, was attending to Paddock as judges deliberated over the winner of the fight.

He was returning to his seat when the atmosphere within the town hall transformed into a ‘full-blown disorder’.

He said: “I recall tables and plastic cups full of drink being thrown across the venue.”

'Someone's been stabbed'

A security guard then hurried towards him, proclaiming ‘Doctor we need you, someone’s been stabbed’, the court heard.

The medic struggled across the ‘slippery’ floor before spotting Mr Asbury with a piece of clothing pressed against the right side of his neck.

Dr Hassan, who is also a plastic surgeon, then shouted at his colleagues to grab all medical equipment they could find.

The victim lay in a pool of blood on the floor as an oxygen mask was placed over his face, the court was told yesterday.

But the wounded boxing fan began ‘coughing thick blood’ as medics tended to him. Soon after, he appeared unresponsive and medics were forced to deliver CPR.

'Not caused by glass'

Dr Hassan then decided to remove the piece of clothing covering Mr Asbury’s neck, discovering the wound had pierced through to his throat.

He added: “He had gone very pale. His skin was clammy and it was all due to the amount of blood he had lost.

“In my professional opinion, the wound I saw was caused by a stab wound with a blade.

“I do not think the injury I saw could have been caused by glass.”

The court heard Mr Asbury was taken to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital but died the following night.

Brawl

During the trial, jurors were told chairs and glasses were hurled across the town hall before violence spilled outside the venue.

Prosecutors also allege Derby fan Andrew wounded two others and attempted to stab a fourth man during the incident.

The 21-year-old fled the scene hours after, catching a flight to Amsterdam and travelling to Barcelona where police caught him.

Andrew, of St Helen’s Street, Derby, was then extradited to the UK in January, jurors were told.

Co-defendants Declan Kemp-Francis, 23, of Dickens Square, Sunny Hill, Derby, and Lavelle Patrice, 22, of Heavenwood Grove, Littleover, Derby, are both charged with violent disorder.

Ryandeep Singh, 22, of Lidgate Close, Derby, is accused of assisting Andrew by taking possession of the alleged murder weapon.

Kemp-Francis is also charged with assisting Andrew by driving him away from the scene.

All four deny all the charges. The trial continues.