Security guard ‘scalped and left with his face hanging off’ after horror ‘murder’ at Lanarkshire housing development
A SECURITY guard said a prayer as he lay dying in the street with his scalp hanging off, a murder trial heard today.
Mohammed Abu Sammour, 49, was found with horror injuries by a couple who earlier heard a van revving and a thud.
He was left ‘partially scalped’ and with leg and rib injuries after being attacked with a brick and then reversed over in his own works van, a trial was told today.
He died from chest, head and pelvic wounds following a brutal attack at a new housing development in Newarthill, Lanarkshire, last October.
The dad-of-four was set upon after confronting a teen who had used a knuckle duster to smash a window in his Peugeot van, jurors heard.
Witness Paul Armstrong, 47, told the High Court in Glasgow today that he heard shouting, a loud thud and then went outside his house to find Mohammed lying dying in the street.
He said: “I heard raised voices and the revving of an engine and a thud. I thought a car had maybe hit a kerb.
"Whoever was in the vehicle was wanting to get away quick and fast. I heard a groaning coming from outside.”
He added: “The gentleman’s left leg was badly distorted, it was all out of shape. He had no shoes or socks on. They were lying nearby.
“The injuries to the gentleman’s face - it was as if he had a mask on. The skin was all hanging off the side of his head.”
Mr Armstrong told the jury he and his wife waited with Mohammed for about 10 minutes until an ambulance arrived.
He said: “I told a police officer we thought because of the shoes and socks discarded and it was bitterly cold we thought he had maybe been thrown out a van. He was only wearing a polo shirt and chinos.”
Paramedic Kevin O’Hara told the court that Mr Sammour was partially scalped and had injuries to both legs and multiple rib fractures.
Mr O’Hara added: “He was still alert and talking and was in obvious agony.
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“He was speaking in a foreign language and seemed to be saying a prayer. He didn’t say help, but he was grasping out to us as we approached him.”
Scott Pearson, 22, denies murdering security supervisor Mohammed at the Torrance Gardens housing development on October 28 last year.
His pal Ryan Hunter, 28 - who has admitted culpable homicide over the victim’s death - told a jury Pearson was driving the van which reversed over Mohammed.
Hunter, who was a passenger, said he did not realise the Peugeot had struck Mohammed and said he could not remember any revving of the engine, tyres screeching and did not feel a bump.
He was speaking in a foreign language and seemed to be saying a prayer. He didn’t say help, but he was grasping out to us as we approached him
Kevin O'Hara, Paramedic
Hunter said he was walking through the housing development as a shortcut to Newarthill with Pearson and an 18-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons.
He said the 18-year-old saw a Peugeot van and began throwing stones at it before putting on a knuckleduster and smashing one of the windows - at which point Mohammed got out the vehicle.
Hunter added: “The man came up to Scott and put his arms up and tried to grab him and Scott retaliated and punched him.”
Hunter told the jury that Pearson then threw a half brick at Mr Sammour and missed.
He claimed the 18-year-old then picked up the brick and struck Mohammed on the face and then kicked him four or five times, leaving him lying on the ground.
The court heard Pearson got in the driver’s seat and the other two sat beside him.
Prosecutor Murdo McTaggart asked Hunter: “Did you say anything to Scott Pearson about the man at the back of the van,” and he replied: “I said ‘That guy’s still behind us.’ He looked in the wing mirrors and said ‘He’s no.’”
The prosecutor asked: “Would Scott Pearson have been able to see where the man was lying,” and the witness replied: “I’m not sure.”
Hunter said that Pearson then reversed about six or seven feet and added: “It happened so fast.”
He was asked if he heard the engine revving and said: “I can’t remember”
The witness was then asked if felt a bump or an impact and replied: “Not at all.”
Defence QC Tony Graham asked Hunter: “You tendered a plea to culpable homicide,” and he replied: “Yes.”
“You were on October 28, 2018 in a van which killed Mr Sammour,” and Hunter replied: “Yes.”
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Mr Graham went on: “What you would want to let it be known was it was somebody else who was more involved,” and Hunter said: “It wasn’t my fault.”
The QC said: “You might have been involved in some way but you don’t feel responsible for this man’s death?”
Hunter replied: “I know it wasn’t me.”
The trial continues.
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