Man denies involvement in beheading

A MAN accused of beheading a shopkeeper told the Old Bailey yesterday he did not know why anyone would incriminate him or his father, writes Rachel Borrill.

Moddessir Jafri said he could not explain why Khalid Dad's bloodstained clothes were in his father's loft. 'I do not know anything about this,' he said.

Mr Jafri, 24, and his father Majid Syed, 60, from Slough, Berkshire, deny murdering Khalid Dad, 21, in May last year. Mr Dad had been gagged, beaten and his head was severed by a single blow.

Mr Jafri said that he last saw Mr Dad at 8pm on the day of the murder. 'I was told that he wanted to see me, but when I went to the supermarket Khalid said he had just asked about me, he didn't want to see me,' he said.

Mr Jafri said he was in bed when his stepmother phoned to warn him he was 'in danger'. 'She said someone was banging on the door threatening to kill them.'

Mr Jafri said Younes Dad, Mr Dad's brother, arrived at his house and asked him where Mr Dad was. 'He . . . said he knew my father had rung me to warn me that he wanted to beat me up,' he said.

The trial continues today.