The violent incident, that occurred in Portslade on April 2nd of this year, transpired between members of two rival barber shops located on Station Road. The criminal trial for this incident began on Monday 25th November in Brighton Crown Court 1 under the supervision of the honourable Judge Stephen Mooney. 

All seven defendants are charged with ‘possession of offensive weapons’ and ‘causing violent disorder’, to which they have all plead ‘not guilty’. Whilst defendant Kozheen Banaee, 22, faces the further charges of ‘wounding with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm’ and ‘possession of an article with a blade’, which is believed to have been a barber’s razor. 

Yesterday’s preliminary hearing saw CPS barrister Richard Hearnden introducing the events of April 2nd to twelve members of a sitting jury, who were sworn in along with two interpreters who are tasked with translating the proceedings for those defendants who can only understand Kurdish. This jury appears to be made up of mixed ages and consists almost entirely of Caucasian men and women.

Today’s proceeding involved the cross-examination of eyewitnesses and the lead police detective on the case, DC Alice Piccard, along with video footage of the incident. Judge Mooney appeared visibly displeased today as a delay in police security had caused the proceeding to begin half an hour late, for which he apologised to the jury as they entered the drab courtroom. Once the room had filled, Mr Hearnden called Mrs Gill Hyde, who was shopping on Station Road at the time of the event, to the witness box. 

Ms Hyde, who spoke from behind a blue anonymity curtain, described what she saw on April 2nd as “utter carnage” and assisted the prosecution by identifying the defendant Hogr Banaee, 24, as having wielded a “mini crowbar” in the fight.

The next to be called to the witness box was Mr Ryan Potter, who was driving in the area of the incident on April 2nd. Mr Potter recalls seeing “three or four different fights going on” following a verbal altercation in the street. Mr Potter also stated that he saw “one of the guy’s faces covered in blood” after “fighting erupted”. 

Mr Hearnden then called Ms Tracy Grant to the concealed witness box. 

Ms Grant admitted in her cross-examination that she didn’t see the physical brawl occur but was witness to the verbal argument that happened prior, stating that “the attitude outside of the barbers was very aggressive”. 

The lively jury appeared to be listening attentively, most of them jotting notes as these witnesses were questioned. 

Mr Hearnden then called DC Alice Piccard to the witness box in order to scrutinise the many video footages of the events of 2nd April. 

The court was shown two CCTV videos that captured the fight from different angles and a further four videos of the event that were captured by members of the public. Judge Mooney insisted that one cell phone video, depicting the entirety of the street fight and the stabbing of defendant Sarbast Ibrahimi, 25, was shown in full to the jury several times. These videos were considered to be key pieces of evidence for the prosecution and may ultimately sway the tide of conviction in this trial. 

Judge Mooney has said that this trial is likely to go on for four weeks, well into the Christmas period. The case continues.