Attack left man 'a vegetable'

A man was left a "vegetable for life" after being attacked by a man he confronted for queue jumping at a garage, a court has heard.

Adyl Kanata, 23, was first stabbed in the stomach and then battered repeatedly over the head with a car Krooklok, leaving him with irreversible brain damage.

He is now blind, immobile and remains in hospital "totally dependent" on round-the-clock nursing with no prospect of recovery, London's Southwark Crown Court was told.

Daniel Barker, 28, of Bekesbourne Street, Stepney, east London, denies two counts of wounding with intent on 5 May, 2001.

Constance Briscoe, prosecuting, said the victim had spent a pleasant evening with friends in Hackney, east London, when they decided to get something to eat from a nearby garage.

Repeatedly stabbed

But as they queued at the cashier's night window, Barker jumped the queue after filling his car.

Ms Briscoe said that after an initial exchange of words the defendant returned to his car and spoke to his two passengers.

One of the passengers then attacked Mr Kanata, stabbing him repeatedly in the stomach

Yousaf Kavira, 20, one of Mr Kanata's friends, was stabbed as well.

"He was losing a lot of blood and ran off, calling to Adyl to do the same," Ms Briscoe told the court.

Airport arrest

But Ms Briscoe claimed CCTV tape showed the defendant going to the boot of his car and returning with a Krooklok.

Wielding the weapon "like a baseball bat", he delivered a series of blows to the man's shoulder and head, the prosecutor alleged.

Ms Briscoe told the court Barker then drove off at speed.

She said that Mr Kavira "suffered oxygen starvation to the brain and remains in a persistent vegetative state."

She said publicity eventually led to Mr Barker's arrest on 3 December 2002, at Stansted Airport, when he had £1,365 and a one-way ticket to Malaga in his pocket.

The trial continues.