Man accused of murdering father and community pillar stands trial – live court updates

The second day of a trial into the alleged murder of a “devoted” father-of-11 is set to begin. Ibrahim Yassin, 64, was pronounced dead after police were called to his home in Cardiff on February 18, 2024.

Mujeeb Hassani, 40, was subsequently arrested. Hassani, of Cliff Court, Butetown, previously entered not guilty pleas to murder and manslaughter. His trial started on Monday, August 10 at Cardiff Crown Court with the prosecution’s case.

Opening his case, Mr John Hipkin KC said that Hassani left his home armed with a knife at around 7am after attending morning prayers at the Butetown Islamic Centre. The jury was told that CCTV footage from the Butetown Islamic Centre on the morning of February 18, 2024, showed that the two men were spotted at the Islamic Centre for morning prayers. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here.

However, no obvious interaction could be seen between them. Read everything that happened on day one of the trial here.

Later than morning Mr Yassin was stabbed at home in Belmont Walk, Cardiff. The attack on Mr Yassin saw stab wounds to virtually all parts of his body, including neck wounds which were severe.

The defendant is alleged to have run off and was captured on CCTV running down Bute Street. The prosecution told the court that he was shown with a knife in his hand wrapped in a pink towel. Hassani attempted to get in a vehicle driven by Anette Watkins who had her grandson in the car.

“Fortunately he could not open the door as the child lock was in operation,” Mr Hipkin said.

It was heard how Hassani then approached a coach driver to ask for help with his injury, before he was arrested on nearby James Street.

During proceedings, the jury heard from Mr Hipkin that Hassani had been detained under the mental health act prior to the incident but was released on February 15, 2024 despite concerns from consultant psychiatrist Dr Matthew Hoskins, who told a mental health tribunal at the time that the defendant posed a risk to himself and others and had ‘poor compliance’ with taking medication.

At the time of his death Mr Yassin was a caretaker at the South Wales Islamic Centre in Butetown and was a popular and well-regarded man among the Somali community in Cardiff.

In a family statement released through police, Mr Yassin’s family described him as a “cherished father, deeply adored by his children”.

They added: “He was not only a guiding light in their lives, offering unwavering love, guidance, and support through every triumph and trial they faced together. Mr Yassin was known as a generous and compassionate pillar of the community, always ready to lend a hand and spread love wherever he went.”

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke advised that the trial might extend into next week. Hassani appeared via video link from Ashworth High Secure Hospital in Liverpool.

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