Man's 'racist taunts' led to death fight

By nhitchens

A BURWASH man has been accused of sparking a brawl with racists taunts which led to the death of a 16-year-old foreign student.

Paul Rockett, 21, has denied racially aggravated common assault in an incident that led to the death of Qatari youngster Mohammed al-Majed in Hastings last year, just a week before he was due to return to the Middle East.

Prosecuting, Camden Pratt QC told jurors at Lewes Crown Court at the opening day of the trial on Monday that Rockett, of Ham Lane, had shouted a racist slur at Mohammed's friend Peter Henworth before aiming a punch at him, which missed.

"The particulars are that this defendant, on August 22 last year, assaulted Peter Henworth and at the time of doing so demonstrated a hostility based on his membership, or presumed membership, of a particular racial group," he said.

Appearing alongside Rockett was George Austin, 22, from Bermondsey, who was charged with manslaughter, and Alexander Quinn, 19, from Hastings, charged with unlawful wounding with intent, and unlawful wounding.

Mr Pratt described how Rockett, then 20, and another young man began to hurl insults at Mr Henworth outside a kebab shop on Hastings seafront.

"They picked on him, if the Crown is right, because he was black," he said.

"They picked on him because of their presumption about his race and by reason of their prejudice."

Immediately afterwards, the men confronted Mohammed and his 14-year-old friend Mojeb Qatani, both students of the EF language school in Hastings.

Austin is accused of hitting Mohammed, knocking him to the floor and causing head injuries which led to his death on August 25, while Quinn is accused of hitting Mojeb with a bottle.

All three men have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The case continues and is expected to last up to four weeks.