Cousin of murdered Seaford waiter was banned from family home court hears
THE COUSIN of the Seaford waiter found dead in his family home had been banned from returning to the property months before killing him, a court has heard.
Mohammed Anhar, who has pleaded guilty to murdering 27-year-old Ahmed Remon Hayder, had been working at the Moon of India restaurant owned by Ahmed's father Ali Hayder who had sponsored him for a work visa to come to the country in 2003.
But the 33-year-old defendant, who also admits aggravated burglary, had caused problems at the business based at Sutton Park Road - according to Ahmed's brother Rahul.
Shahadat Mollah Sohag, 21, of no fixed addresss, has pleaded not guilty to both charges and went on trial at Lewes Crown Court this week.
On Wednesday jurors heard that Anhar, of East London, had intially had a positive attitude but things went downhill and he was said to have upset members of staff. On one occasion he and a cook had a physical fight and as a result the cook was asked to leave.
Rahul, whose brother Ahmed, was found dead in the hallway of the family home on February 1, suspected Anhar may have been involved saying, "As far as I was concerned the only possible enemy our family could have was Anhar."
Ahmed had suffered serious head injuries and 'really had no chance' in the attack, say the prosecution. The court heard the former Seaford Head Community College pupil was overpowered in a violent struggle and received horrific injuries to his head and face.
Jurors heard that jewellery and 2,320 cash was stolen from the property.
Rahul Hayder, who said he did not know of Sohag, told the court that after Anhar finished his employment at the restaurant he would live there on and off during the next few years.
But he said he had received many complaints about his cousin and things came to a head in April 2009 and he asked him to leave.
On January 31, the day before his brother's body was found, Rahul had gone to Surrey and was aware something was wrong on the Monday after receiving numerous missed calls from unknown numbers the next day.
He then rang his brother around 15 times and got no answer.
He said Ahmed - who was last seen by staff around midnight on the Sunday - was very conscious security wise and that he usually stayed in the staff side of the accommodation which was separate to the family living accommodation. But on the night in question the court heard Ahmed was likely to have stayed on the family side of the property because his parents were away.
Other members of staff who lived in the staff accommodation side of the building, which is directly above the restaurant, told the court they had not heard a disturbance during the night and did not know of Sohag.
The trial continues.
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Weather for Hastings
Monday 13 February 2012
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