SA: Man meant to kill former flatmate, court told

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2008
SA: Man meant to kill former flatmate, court told

ADELAIDE, April 21 AAP - A former refugee from Afghanistan meant to kill when he stabbed
his former flatmate in the heart during a fight in Adelaide, a court was told today.

Reza Ali, 22, went on trial today in the South Australian Supreme Court, accused of
murdering Ahmad Ali in a Findon unit early on October 12, 2006.

Prosecutor Adam Kimber told the jury Ahmad Ali was just a "young man", making a new
life for himself as a taxi driver after coming to Adelaide from Afghanistan via a detention
camp.

Mr Kimber said it remained unclear exactly what led to the fight.

But, he said, there had been "bad blood" between the former flatmates after Reza Ali
moved out to Henley Beach months earlier.

Late on October 11, 2006, after drinking a small amount of beer with friends, Reza
Ali sent an abusive text message to Ahmad Ali, the court was told.

The pair then had a heated argument over the telephone before Reza Ali went to the
Findon flat despite attempts by his friends to stop him.

"It was a volatile situation, a knife was produced and Mr Ahmad Ali ended up dead on
the floor," Mr Kimber said.

Mr Kimber told the jury they would hear evidence from the accused saying the death
was completely accidental.

The court would be told Reza Ali had been punched at least twice in the face before
Ahmad Ali pulled out a knife and both men struggled over the weapon.

Mr Kimber said Ahmad Ali had knife wounds to his arms and face, plus a 12cm wound that
pierced his heart, causing fatal bleeding.

"The accused had no injuries at all," Mr Kimber said.

He said Reza Ali had the upper hand in that fight and meant to kill or at least seriously
harm Ahmad Ali when he grabbed the knife.

The trial, which is set down for two weeks, continues.

AAP lk/it/cdh

KEYWORD: ALI

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