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Camden New Journal - by DAVID ST GEORGE
Published: 7 June 2007

Second trial in knife death case begins

Three accused deny all charges at Old Bailey hearing

THREE men accused of involvement in the “frenzied” gang attack which cost a student his life in the heart of Camden Town, went on trial at the Old Bailey yesterday (Wednesday.)
The trial is the second into the death of 18-year-old Mahir Osman, which was witnessed by hundreds and captured on 20 CCTV cameras.
In the dock are two 17-year-olds from Tottenham – who cannot be named – and 23-year-old Mohamed Siad of Edmonton.
One teenager is accused of murder, the others with conspiracy to injure. All deny the charges.
Mechanical engineering student Mahir, of Taplow, Adelaide Road, was stabbed outside Camden Town Tube station on January 28 last year.
He had been involved with ‘small cannabis dealing’ with friends but was isolated in Camden High Street when a gang of 40 rivals appeared heavily armed and attacked him, according to prosecutor Brenden Finucane, QC.
Mr Finucane said: “In the space of less than 30 seconds Mahir received 17 stab wounds. Two went through his lungs and one went through his liver. A shocking aspect of this case is that it took place in front of many members of the public enjoying a Saturday night out.”
Gang members boarded a bus in a desperate attempt to get back to their north London base as Mahir lay dying.
The bus was stopped by police and several arrests were made and an arsenal of weapons recovered. Two suspects suffered cuts from a knife which Mahir drew “in self defence” – and from the DNA their identities are known.
Police had been called to break up running battles between rival gangs of Somali youths from Camden and Tottenham or Wood Green in the weeks leading up to the murder, and eight members of the north London Somalis gang were convicted of roles in the Mahir ambush earlier this year.
The trial continues.

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