Two men in Rotherham, UK are accused of attacking and killing an elderly Muslim resident who was on his way for fajr prayers during the early hours on August 10 last year.
The 81-year-old resident, Mushin Ahmed, succumbed to injuries eleven days after the attack and the two accused men stand on trial for murder.
“Since his retirement Mr Ahmed had been a regular attender at the mosque,” said prosecutor Andrew Robertson.
“In the early hours of Monday August 10 last year, he set off to the mosque for prayers.
“He never made it to the mosque. On his way there, just after 3am, he was attacked and murdered.”
The local court said a man racially abused the old pensioner as he walked to a mosque before launching a fatal drink- and drug-fuelled attack with his friend.
The accused, Dale Jones and Damian Hunt, punched, kicked and stamped on Ahmed as he made his way to prayers at the mosque in Rotherham.
According to Robertson, Jones had become violent and aggressive due to an issue at home.
“He had got himself into a raging fury,” the prosecutor said.
Jones had also racially abused an Asian taxi driver a short time before the attack.
“There was an incident of blatant aggression by Jones that demonstrated his racist attitude,” prosecutor added.