Khaberni - Video recordings documenting the moments leading up to and during the stabbing of Saudi Muhammad Al-Qasim, as well as the perpetrator's escape, were shown to the jury at the British Crown Court in Cambridge.
In detail, the prosecution displayed surveillance camera footage capturing the suspect before, during, and after the incident, noting that the footage showed no prior hostile interaction between the two parties.
The footage also revealed the suspect inside a pub in an abnormal state, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, carrying a knife in his pocket.
The filmed scenes later showed the suspect fleeing through a pedestrian area after the stabbing, in a scene described by the prosecution as shocking and reflective of an attacker’s behavior, not self-defense.
The prosecution stated that these are decisive pieces of evidence that conclusively refute the self-defense claims, along with the testimony of his friend Abdullah Saleh bin Shuael, who recounted the terrifying details saying, "I thought I would be the next victim."
The trial revealed a precise timeline of the movements of both the suspect and the victim, and according to the prosecution, showed no altercation or threat that would justify the use of the weapon. The suspect admitted to killing the 20-year-old student but denied the charge of premeditated murder, claiming he was defending himself.
At the opening of the case, the prosecutor affirmed that the victim posed no threat to anyone, adding that the suspect was the aggressor, and what happened was an unjustified, senseless act of violence—it was not an accident nor was it self-defense, but rather a deliberate killing.
During the court sessions, the jury heard testimonies stating that the suspect had spent part of the evening with a girlfriend who said he might have taken drugs, noting that his condition seemed different from his usual drunkenness and that he attempted to harass her and another neighbor.
Before the fatal encounter, the suspect visited a bar and told a patron that he was carrying a knife, justifying it as self-defense after having been previously shot at and stabbed.
In front of the court, Abdullah Saleh bin Shuael, who was standing outside a luxury housing building in Cambridge on the night of August 1, 2025, recounted the details of the moments before the fatal stab, saying he took out his entry card from his pocket to open the door to the university residence, believing he would be the next target.
He explained that Al-Qasim was calmly sitting on a low wall near the entrance, smiling and talking with colleagues, before the suspect approached him wearing a yellow reflective jacket and dirty shorts, swaying from side to side and not walking normally.
He noted that a brief and quiet conversation took place between the two before the suspect walked away and then returned tense, asking, "What did you say?"
He added that Al-Qasim remained calm while the suspect approached his face and leaned down to his level, yelling.
Bin Shuael stated that the victim stood up and faced the suspect, and then they separated without scuffle, adding, "Suddenly he pulled out a knife from his pocket and stabbed Muhammad. At first, I thought it was a punch."
He noted that the blow was strong on the left side of the neck, causing the victim's cap to fly off from the force of the stab.
He continued, saying, "Muhammad put his hand on his neck and walked away; then I saw the knife and the blood on its blade."
He confirmed that the suspect looked at him saying, "What are you going to do?", a statement he perceived as a direct threat.
Seconds later, Al-Qasim collapsed in the street from his injuries, while the suspect left the scene holding a cigarette in one hand.
The autopsy report revealed that death was caused by a single stab wound on the left side of the neck that severed the carotid artery and jugular vein, leading to heavy bleeding that ended the student's life swiftly.
