Alleged murderer 'bought knife for £20 on Snapchat'

Ramani Sanderson, who denies the murder of 21-year-old Shane Mayer outside Gabba's Bar in Darlaston on July 24 2019, acquired the knife earlier that day, at noon.

A jury at Birmingham Crown Court heard yesterday that Sanderson, 20, arranged to meet the seller of the knife, which measured between 30 and 40 centimetres in length, through Snapchat.

Michael Duck QC, defending Sanderson said: “Tell us the circumstances of how you first came into possession of the knife."

“I bought it off someone,” replied Sanderson of Walsham Road, near Peckham, London.

“What did you pay for it?” asked Mr Duck.

“£20,” he replied.

Mr Duck said: “How did you arrange to meet?

Sanderson replied: “Through Snapchat messaging.”

The court heard that Sanderson hid the knife in a grassy area of land to the west of Black Country New Road, near his then home in Burns Place.

Later, at 9.39pm he left his house and retrieved the knife placing it inside his waistband, before meeting friends, including co-defendants Kamron Reid and Joseph Till.

From an alleyway near Wolverhampton Street the group walked past Gabba’s Bar in Forge Road. Sanderson said he had intended to go home but instead went into the back garden of Kamron Reid’s Home in Herberts Park Road.

“We know that there was a telephone call made at 11.09 and appeared to come from (co-defendant) Lewis Green to Kamron Reid,” said Mr Duck.

“At Kamron Reid’s did you tell anyone you were in possession (of the knife) or show it to anyone else,” asked Mr Duck.

“No,” said Sanderson.

The court heard that Sanderson arrived in Forge Road with Reid and Till. Sanderson said he was aware of a group coming towards his group, took the knife from his waistband and held it behind his back in his right hand.

“I was holding the blade upwards to conceal it,” he said.

“Why were you trying to conceal it?” asked Mr Duck?

“I was not sure whether the other group had knives or not,” he said.

Sanderson said during the confrontation a Mr Langston, who was with Shane Mayer, said “get the dotty” which Sanderson said he interpreted to mean “grab the shotgun”.

“I have already been shot at once,” said Sanderson referring to a past incident in London. “I don’t want to be shot at again.”

Sanderson said he struck Mr Langston and the court was shown CCTV footage of a struggle between Sanderson and Mr Mayer.

“We held onto each other’s jumpers,” said Sanderson who said the weapon was then in his left hand.

“I was trying to release myself by pushing him – I was swinging him about.”

“Do you accept that it was when you came together with Mr Mayer that he received the injuries he suffered?” asked Mr Duck.

“Yes,” replied Sanderson.

Mr Duck said: “Were you aware of the blade coming into contact with Mr Mayer?"

Sanderson said: “No.”

Mr Duck added: “Were you aware that Mr Mayer had sustained injuries?

Sanderson replied: “Not at this point.”

After “chasing” Mr Langston to keep him away, Sanderson ran back towards his house along Herberts Park Road aware that people had seen the knife and “did not want stick around”. The court heard he then disposed of the knife in bushes on the same grassy area of land that he had retrieved it from earlier.

“I literally just chucked it,” Sanderson told the court.

He said a spotlight which illuminated the area caused him to notice blood on his jumper, which he took off. He said when he arrived home, where his mother and sister were, he went straight to his room and decided to wash his clothing in the washing machine.

Sanderson said he started to think he “could have caught Shane (Mr Mayer) with a blade.

“You recognise that you may have caused Mr Mayer injury,” said Mr Duck. "Did you learn more about what happened at Gabba’s Bar?”

Sanderson said: “Not straight away.”

When Mr Duck asked him when he learnt more about what happened, Sanderson replied: “The next day.”

“When did you become aware Shane Mayer had died?” asked Mr Duck.

“It would be couple of days after,” said Sanderson.

“Did you ever intend to seriously injure or kill Mr Langston or Mr Mayer?” asked Mr Duck.

“No,” Sanderson replied.

Shane Mayer died in hospital three days later of the injuries he sustained from being stabbed in the groin.

Sanderson has pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing a knife - on the evening of the attack on Mr Mayer, and three months earlier when a taxi driver was attacked near the Bradford Arms pub in Walsall for which he denies a charge of wounding.

The other defendants charged with Mr Mayer’s murder are Lewis Green, 21, of Heathfield Lane West, Darlaston; Joseph Till, 21, of Summer Street, Willenhall, and Kamron Reid, 20, of Herberts Park Road, Bloxwich.

They deny murdering Mr Mayer, and possessing a bladed article. Green admits carrying a hammer.

The trial continues.