Young man died after assault fracture, court told

A healthy young man who suffered a fractured ankle during a "senseless" attack in London's West End died weeks later, a court has heard.

Taha Errami, 22, was stamped on and punched in Shaftesbury Avenue on 1 June 2024 and died in hospital five weeks later after suffering cardiac arrest on a train to Paddington Station, the Old Bailey heard.

The arrest was caused by a blood clot that had travelled from the site of the ankle injury to his lungs, the court was told.

Malachi Wilson, 27, of no fixed address, Devonta Rose, 21, of Manor Park, east London, and Dennis Kaantharasan, 26, of Stratford, east London, deny Mr Errami's manslaughter.

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC said: "His assailants, during an episode of late-night, senseless street violence, were these three defendants. Mr Errami did not know any of them."

She told jurors that the events before, during and after the incident in Shaftesbury Avenue were caught on CCTV.

The victim had provided police with an account which was recorded on the officer's body-worn camera, the court was told.

Mr Errami had asked the officer for help at about 01:15 BST, and said he had just been robbed.

He also told a paramedic on Shaftesbury Avenue that his leg had been stepped on during an assault, the court heard.

An X-ray in hospital later confirmed his left ankle was fractured. It was placed in a walker boot and Mr Errami was given crutches before being discharged with advice to attend a fracture clinic.

Jurors heard how patients with lower limb fractures which are immobilised in a cast or in a walking boot have an increased risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Ms Carberry said that Mr Errami was "a young healthy person" and did not fall into the category of a patient requiring anticoagulant drugs but was given an advice leaflet about DVT.

On the charge against the defendants, the prosecutor told jurors: "It is not the Crown's case that the three defendants intended to cause Mr Errami's death, or even that they intended to cause him serious physical harm, simply that they each participated in an assault which they realised might cause Mr Errami some harm."

The trial at the Old Bailey continues.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected]