Lewisham murder trial: Two deny killing Miles Meyjes

Jamal Morgan-Salih, 32, and Romar McDermott, 23, are accused of murdering Miles Meyjes, 44, who died in hospital on February 20 last year. The trial at the Old Bailey heard that Mr Meyjes died two weeks after an alleged assault in his Lewisham flat.

Allegations of home invasion and assault

Prosecutor John Price KC told the court that intruders forced their way into the flat Mr Meyjes shared with his partner, Samantha Lee. He stated that Mr Meyjes was "savagely attacked" while on the floor, with Ms Lee hearing the assault from the hallway. She reported being detained in a bedroom by one intruder who held what she believed to be a real handgun to her face.

Mr Meyjes, who had kidney disease, was taken to hospital on February 19 last year. His partner had told a 999 operator that he had been without dialysis treatment for five days and was unresponsive. A paramedic attending Mr Meyjes's home noted that one of his eyes was "very bruised and swollen shut", the court was told.

Days before his hospital admission, on February 7, Mr Meyjes had been photographed by a police officer following a report of an assault. Mr Meyjes told another paramedic at that time that he had been "jumped" two days prior. In a written statement, he described being assaulted after three men entered his flat, naming two as "Mitch" and "Kane". The prosecution asserts these were the defendants Morgan-Salih and McDermott.

Denials and further charges

Both Morgan-Salih and McDermott have denied murder. Morgan-Salih has also pleaded not guilty to possession of a firearm or imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Additionally, he denies perverting the course of justice by allegedly offering and making bribes of cash and controlled drugs to Ms Lee to try to induce her to withdraw her co-operation with the police investigation and not give evidence.

Ms Lee identified the two men as Mitch and Kane to police. Jurors heard she told officers that she and Mr Meyjes were long-term class A drug users and that Mitch and Kane were partners in drug dealing. She alleged there had been a delay in reporting the assault because she was "scared" and thought she could resolve the situation herself. Mr Meyjes did not want an ambulance at that time as they "didn’t want to make anything worse", the court was told.

The trial continues at the Old Bailey.