Man killed after school drug row

Mr Patel died when he was stabbed in Leyton in July

A man was fatally stabbed in London after he confronted a man for allegedly selling cannabis to his younger brother, the Old Bailey has heard.

Adnan Patel, 21, from Stratford, was found in Leyton with a knife wound to his chest on 10 July 2008.

Earlier in the day he had confronted Clint D'Mello, 24, following a visit to his brother's school.

Mr D'Mello, Akeel Shah, 24, Moneeb Khalid, 20, and Mohsin Akram, 19, all from east London, deny murder.

Denied responsibility

Mark Heywood, prosecuting, said Mr Patel had been summoned to the school by the headteacher and after meeting with him, his brother was excluded over "his involvement with drugs".

When the boy told his brothers that he was getting the drugs from Mr D'Mello, Mr Patel and another brother decided to confront the man.

"The Patel brothers decided to make contact and speak to him. He denied any responsibility," Mr Heywood said.

Mr Patel confronted the defendant again later that day, the court heard.

Following the second confrontation Mr Patel was surrounded by an armed gang close to his home and stabbed on each side of his chest, the court heard.

After the attack he got into his car and crashed into another vehicle around the corner. He collapsed and died as he got out of the vehicle, the jury heard.

Mr Heywood said Mr Patel, the eldest of five brothers, felt responsible for the family after his father's death.

Mr D'Mello from Ashlin Road, Stratford, Akeel Shah of North Birkbeck Road, Leytonstone, Moneeb Khalid from Seventh Avenue, Manor Park, and Mohsin Akram of Bradymead, Beckton, all deny murder.

The trial continues.