Teen was 'brutally' killed by rival gang - court

A teenager was murdered when he was hauled out of a taxi and stabbed in a "barbaric" assault, a jury has heard.

Jamie Meah, 18, was sitting in a vehicle on Brooklyn Terrace in Armley, Leeds, on 31 March 2023 when he and his 16-year-old friend, Kayne Priestley, were dragged onto the street and attacked, Leeds Crown Court heard.

Ranei Wilks, 23, is standing trial accused of murdering Mr Meah and attempting to murder Mr Priestley, and two counts of possession of a bladed article, one of which relates to a separate incident.

A further three suspects who the prosecution say were involved - Caleb Awe, Aquade Jeffers and Enham Nishat - remain at large having fled the UK after the incident.

Opening the case for the prosecution, Imran Shafi told the jury the two groups were "rivals" and both engaged in drug dealing.

It was said that Mr Meah and Mr Priestley had taken a taxi to various locations across west Leeds on the day of the incident, before eventually arriving at Hall Lane in Armley, at its junction with Brooklyn Terrace, late in the afternoon.

Mr Priestley got out of the taxi and began to approach a "customer", before recognising a group in a parked Mercedes, the court heard.

The boy "turned tail" and ran back to the taxi but three passengers got out of the Mercedes and dragged the two teenagers out of the vehicle.

Mr Shafi said the pair were then subjected to a "vicious, sustained, barbaric and brutal assault" as they were stabbed, kicked and punched.

One of the suspects is alleged to have carried a "long knife", described by the taxi driver as a sword measuring between three and four feet.

Mr Priestley fled to a nearby fish and chip shop where he received help and was later treated for his injuries.

Mr Meah ran to a nearby house and asked for an ambulance to be called, but lost consciousness before paramedics arrived and was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.

It was said the four suspects fled to Ireland the day after the attacks, where they were arrested over a "petty theft" on 5 April.

However, they were released shortly afterwards as the Garda did not know they were being hunted by UK police.

Mr Wilks, of no fixed abode, was arrested on arrival at Leeds Bradford Airport in April 2024, after flying back into the UK from Turkey.

Outlining his defence, Louise Blackwell told the jury Mr Wilks was present in the vehicle when the attack happened, but denied "participating in it or encouraging it".

She said he had fled the UK with the group "out of fear".

She added that Mr Wilks also had "no knowledge" of a "zombie knife" the prosecution say was found in his possession when the car he was in was stopped in July 2022, eight months before Mr Meah was killed.

The trial continues.

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