'Prank' response to stabbing call

Mrs Patel-Nasri bled to death from a stab wound

A husband who was told by phone that his wife had been stabbed asked if the call was "a prank", a jury has heard.

Special constable Nisha Patel-Nasri, 29, died outside her home in Wembley, north-west London, in May 2006.

Her husband Fadi Nasri, 34, is accused of arranging the killing. He and three other London men deny murder.

A friend told the Old Bailey Mr Nasri took a call while they were at a snooker club and said to him: "Nisha's been stabbed. Could it be a prank?"

Insurance policy

Mahul Desai said: "Then he gave the phone to me, so I phoned Nisha while he was driving. I rang it a few times but it went to voicemail, then voicemail again."

Mr Desai said he then phoned the number of the person who had earlier called Mr Nasri about the stabbing, and it turned out to be a neighbour.

"I spoke to a neighbour at number 17, opposite, and he said she'd been stabbed but she is still alive."

The jury has been told Mr Nasri was having an affair and had debts of more than £100,000.

He is said to have organised the killing of his wife for her £350,000 life insurance policy.

Mr Nasri, a limousine hire boss, from Alderman Court, Barnet, Herts, denies murder, as do bouncer Jason Jones, 36, of Hathaway Crescent, Manor Park; Tony Emmanuel, 42, a driver, of Clements Road, East Ham, both east London, and Rodger Leslie, 38, of Chesterfield Flats, Bells Hill, Barnet.

The trial is continuing.