Man fatally stabbed flatmate while he slept, court told
BBCA man fatally stabbed his flatmate with a kitchen knife while he slept, a court has been told.
Fatih Zengi, 27, was found by a passing cyclist with critical injuries on Manchester Road in Swindon on 2 July, and died at the scene.
Indogan Erdogan, 32, of no fixed abode, is on trial at Bristol Crown Court accused of murdering Mr Zengi. The jury was told the day before the attack, the two flatmates had argued.
On the opening day of the trial on 7 January, Mr Erdogan, a Turkish national, spoke only to confirm his name and was sat beside an interpreter in the dock. He denies murder and a charge of carrying a knife in a public place.
Mr Zengi previously described Mr Erdogan as "dangerous" to a friend visiting the day before the attack, and warned "don't be too friendly with him," prosecutor Charles Rowe KC said in his opening statement.
The flatmates lived in a house of multiple occupation (HMO), and the court was told they argued the day before Mr Zengi's death.
Mr Erdogan later told police that Mr Zengi had said "bad words" about his mother and sister.
Mr Rowe told the jury: "The crown's case is that the defendant harboured resentment when he returned to the flat at 04:42 BST.
"He got a knife from the kitchen and went to the bedroom where Mr Zengi was asleep...the defendant attacked Mr Zengi as he lay in his bed with his head slightly to the side.
"The defendant fled the scene."
Mr Rowe told the court that others who lived in the HMO had ushered Mr Zengi to the front door after the attack.
A passing cyclist then hailed down a police car on patrol, Mr Rowe told the court.
Emergency services were at the scene "within minutes", but unable to save Mr Zengi's life due to the severity of his injuries.
He was pronounced dead at 06:42 BST.
The court heard that Mr Erdogan was later found at Haydon Street after police acted upon information provided by Swindon's Turkish community.
CCTV was also used to trace his movements.
The trial continues.
Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
