Drug dealers 'kicked customer to death'

PAIR DENY MURDERING MAN IN ROW OVER SENDING USERS TO RIVALS

- CARL JACKSON News Reporter

Left, 53-year-old Craig Dean, also known as 'Yankee', and, above, floral tributes left near where he was attacked in Kings Heath

TWO Birmingham drug dealers kicked a customer to death in the street in a row over “competition”, a court heard yesterday.

Craig Dean was found with serious injuries on Springfield Road, Kings Heath, where he lived, shortly before 5pm on July 7 last year.

The 53-year-old, known as ‘Yankee, died in hospital two days later.

Yesterday, a jury at Birmingham Crown Court was told ‘Ace’ line drug dealers Hamza Khan, 23 and Mohammed Rahman, 25, were seen kicking and stamping on his head before driving off. The pair deny murder.

Opening the case, prosecutor Matthew Brook KC told the court other drugs users would approach ‘Yankee’ to order drugs for them because he had a phone.

He said: “This meant Yankee became a useful source of customers for drug dealers including the Ace line, these defendants.”