A jury at Birmingham Crown Court failed to reach a verdict in a murder trial in a case where the victim was found with multiple stab wounds in his room in a shared accommodation in Uplands Road, Handsworth, Birmingham.

The defendant was represented by Gurdeep Garcha K.C., leading Mohammed Naser, and was instructed by Sadia Mahmood of M & N Solicitors, 307a Birchfield Road, Perry Barr, Birmingham, B20 3BX (0121 356 1999).

The prosecution alleged that the defendant had entered the victim’s room with a kitchen knife and launched into an entirely unprovoked attack. A friend of the victim was in the room at the time and described that the victim was stabbed repeatedly and the defendant was trying to decapitate the victim.

The pathological evidence disclosed that the victim had been stabbed 10 times and both his carotid artery and jugular vein had been severed. After the incident, the defendant left the address and disposed of the knife and his clothing.

The defendant accepted that he had stabbed the victim. His case was that he was attacked by the victim and that he feared serious violence, and so acted in lawful self-defence in trying to protect himself.

In addition, Mr Garcha K.C. successfully argued that evidence provided sufficient basis for the defence of “Loss of Control” to be left to the jury. After a very lengthy deliberation, the jury indicated that they were unable to reach a verdict. The case is to be re-tried in February 2027.