THE victim of an alleged machete attack has described the moment he was set upon by a group with a baseball bat and a blade which left half his face hanging off.
Owais Saleem, who was attacked, gave evidence from behind a screen at Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday.
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The former law and university student was attacked in Wyld's Lane, Worcester on Sunday, November 24, 2019.
Usman Multani, 27, of Westminster Road, Ronkswood, Kaasim Multani, 23, also of Westminster Road and Shahenul Alam, 32, of Ivor Road, Sparkhill, deny attempted murder, violent disorder and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
ATTACK: The attack happened in Wyld's Lane
We have previously reported how Mr Saleem suffered a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain following the attack at around 1am outside the St John's Ambulance building in Wyld's Lane, Worcester on November 24, 2019.
Mr Saleem described how he had been with friends on the day of the attack when his attention was drawn to the sound of a car, hearing the revving of its engine.
SCENE: The attack happened outside the St John's Ambulance building in Wyld's Lane, pictured back in November, 2019.
However, he said he did not see a vehicle at that point and turned back around to go up toward the Horizon Community Centre in Midland Road. Mr Saleem said he was at the back of a group of friends and had been 'dragging my feet'.
"Then I heard a car pull up behind me. Then I turned around slowly - I just thought it would be one of my friends. When I turned around I got hit immediately in the head" he said.
Mr Saleem said he initially believed two people had got out of the car but added: "As soon as I could focus I got hit."
Peter Glenser QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Saleem: "Did you see what you were hit with?"
The witness answered: "I assumed it was a bat, a baseball bat. It felt like a bat."
Mr Saleem said the first blow landed on the left hand side of his head and that he 'dropped immediately'. He was then surrounded by a group who stood around him in a circle.
He said he was on his back on the ground 'kind of curled up' with his hands 'protecting my head'.
During the attack Mr Saleem suffered a depressed skull fracture, a fracture to his cheekbone, a stab wound to the buttock, tendon damage and bone damage to his hand caused by a cut and air and blood in the brain.
He said he did at one point removed his hands to look at his assailants but covered his face again. Blows followed to his legs and arms. Slash injuries were later found on his thigh and leg.
Mr Saleem told the jury some of the blows felt like they came from a blade and some from a bat and that none of the blows felt like either a punch or a kick.
During the attack he also received a serious injury to his left hand but he said he had no memory of that being caused.
"There was a lot going on at that time" he said. He said the attack felt like 'a long time'. "It felt like a good 10 minutes" he said.
Asked if he knew why his assailants stopped the attack, he said he did not.
He left the scene of the attack holding his face and was taken to A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital in a friend's car.
"I remember being surrounded. I don't know if they were nurses or medical staff - five to 10 of them around me. Then someone said 'we need something to wrap his face'. That's when I learned my face is practically hanging off."
The trial continues.
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