Man 'wanted out' of relationship with his alleged murderer

A man allegedly murdered by his partner told a friend just days before his death that he wanted "out" of the relationship and felt "suffocated" by it, a jury has heard.

On the fourth day into proceedings at Birmingham Crown Court, a witness known to both defendant Imran Uddin and the deceased Ismail Younis took to the stand to give evidence.

The witness, who spoke behind a screen, told the court he had previously been involved in a sexual relationship with Uddin and first came into contact with Younis after the latter approached him over suspicions Uddin had been unfaithful.

Uddin, 33, denies murdering Younis who was found dead at an address on Richmond Road in Hockley, Birmingham, on 20 August last year.

The witness, whom the BBC is not naming, explained to the court he was not openly homosexual, and publicly revealing he had same-sex relationships might cause him personal difficulty within his community.

He told jurors he met Uddin through a gay escorting website, with Uddin referring to him as his cousin. And while the pair "did become friends", the witness said, they "fell out for a bit because I didn't like his attitude".

Uddin's attitude, he continued, was "his way or no way", adding he believed Uddin always wanted situations to be on his terms. "He thought he was always right," he told the court.

Jurors were also shown messages in which the witness challenged Uddin about his treatment of Younis, telling him: "No wonder he wants out" and "you suffocate the poor lad".

"You don't trust anyone… you think everyone is out to do you over," another read.

Previously, the jury heard allegations that Uddin subjected Younis to controlling behaviour, including accusaions he would keep Younis's personal belongings from him - actions, the court was told, that were particularly distressing for the 24-year-old who had been formally diagnosed with autism and obsessive compulsive disorder.

On Tuesday, the court heard that Younis became suspicious that Uddin had been unfaithful and contacted the witness directly in an attempt to establish the true nature of the relationship.

The witness and Younis became friendly and agreed to meet up on what would be the day of his death.

"He was crying and upset on the phone…and said 'I want out from him and I feel suffocated' .

"I reluctantly said we can meet up and chat... the poor boy was crying on the end of the phone."

Defending Uddin, Martin Rutherford KC asked the witness whether the defendant had ever been violent towards him again after an incident in which Uddin had tried to strike him in his throat.

"No, not again," the witness said.

The trial, yet to hear details of Younis's cause of death, continues.

Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.