A man accused of murder after a fatal stabbing in Old Trafford said he had sold knives on Snapchat. Demari Rose, 20, told jurors that he now regretted the ‘impulsive’ decision to ‘profit’ from the sale of knives.
Mr Rose and another man, Xavaiour Wynter, 21, both deny murdering 21-year-old Salah Adam in May last year. Mr Adam was knifed following a 'heated' dispute about an incident the night before, prosecutors allege.
Mr Rose gave evidence in his defence for the first time during his trial at Manchester Crown Court. He told how he was born in Old Trafford and spent his early years there, before moving to different addresses across Greater Manchester.
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He said that after completing his schooling he undertook an apprenticeship at a garage in Stretford, but said this was ‘interrupted’ after beginning a relationship with a woman who later became pregnant. Jurors heard about Snapchat messages in which Rose said he was ‘advertising’ knives.
"Why are you advertising knives?,” he was asked by his barrister, Siobhan Grey KC. Rose replied: "At the time, after a few attempts to find work, I saw the opportunity to make profit and I took the opportunity.”
Asked how he felt about this now, Rose said: "It was something I massively regret, looking at things now. It was impulsive and something I really regret."
Rose was then asked where he’d sourced the knives from. He said: "I believe it was a market, I can't remember the exact name but it was a market in Blackpool.”
Jurors heard some of the Snapchat messages, including a message where a prospective buyer asked if he had ‘zombie knives’. “Only got 22 inch rams,” Rose replied, telling jurors that ‘rams’ meant ‘Rambo’.
Rose was also questioned about an incident during which he produced a knife in McDonald’s in Piccadilly Gardens, in December 2020. He told the jury that he was with his former girlfriend and two of her pals in the city centre fast food restaurant, when a man he never met before asked him ‘who I was looking at’.
Rose said he found the man ‘quite aggressive’. He said he ignored him and then went into McDonald’s, but said the man also entered and began ‘shouting’ at him. Another man also came in and punched him to the face, jurors were told
Rose said he produced the knife, which had been in his waistband, after saying he was ‘scared for my life’. “After that male punched me I ran over and kind of slashed to the back of his ear with the knife,” Rose said.
The defendant told the jury that he then left McDonald’s via a fire exit. Rose said that he’d been carrying a knife that day because of a previous incident in the Arndale centre, which had made him ‘wary’. Rose admitted being in possession of a bladed article to the incident in McDonald’s but denies affray, jurors were told.
Rose, of no fixed address, and Wynter, of no fixed address, both deny murder. Wynter also denies having an article with a blade or point.
Proceeding.
