A father-of-two was stabbed to death in Bethnal Green during a brutal attack by a gang of men including his girlfriend’s ex-lover, a court heard.
Jurors at the Old Bailey were told Luther Edwards 32, was ambushed in Old Ford Road and Cambridge Heath Road, before he staggered into a BP garage nearby in July 2016.
Christopher O’Sullivan, Jerome Osbourne, Kurtis Thomas and Marlon Thomas are on trial accused of murder.
Before he died, Luther and the four accused were at a boxing match at Bethnal Green’s York Hall to support the same fighter - Nico Giorgio, also known as Yosh.
The court heard claims that when Luther first caught sight of Marlon, the ex-boyfriend of his partner Emine Ibrahim, he took a photograph of him and sent it to her in a text message, calling him “a little boy”.
According to another text Luther is claimed to have sent to his girlfriend, Marlon’s friends, who were watching the match with him, had shown him “mad love” upon seeing him that night - however the prosecution alleges the group turned on him later that night after an argument.
CCTV footage from inside the venue appeared to show the men arguing and having to be separated.
Further CCTV footage from outside the venue showed Christopher being handed a glinting object on the steps outside York Hall which according to the prosecution is likely to be the knife later used to stab Luther.
The court heard Luther, who lived in south London, was obstructed from leaving later that night by Jerome, who then punched him in the face.
Jurors were told a brawl then ensued and Luther flee and run into the middle of the road, where he was then caught again.
He was “hopelessly outnumbered”, according to the prosecution.
The court heard claims that Christopher stabbed Luther and a witness reported seeing the victim jump up “like he had been electrocuted”.
Luther’s sister Naresa, who was also watching the fight, took off her shoe to beat the men in an effort to save her brother.
He died an hour after the fight.
All four deny murder.
The trial continues.
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