A 41-year-old Telford man fought for his life as he was strangled from behind by robbers on his way home from the pub, a jury heard today.
Neil Williams, described by his family as a “gentle giant”, was targeted as he walked home from the Randlay pub in Stirchley late on April 6 last year by Gabriel Bhengu, 26, and Jabu Mbowane, 25, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.
Opening the case today, Mr Roger Smith QC, prosecuting, said they were part of a gang of three who preyed on “vulnerable” people, shared the proceeds of robberies and were responsible for two middle-aged men being murdered.
Bhenngu and Mbowane, both South African nationals living in Wolverhampton, deny murdering Mr Williams, of Calcott, Stirchley. The men, along with a woman, Kashia Allen, 21, also of Wolverhampton, further deny murdering Andrew Owen, of Sedgley, on April 15 last year.
All three defendants deny robbery on four other occasions, including that of a Telford woman, and Bhengu and Allen deny a further robbery charge.
Referring to Mr Williams’s death, Mr Smith said: “He was seized by the neck in a headlock so the neck was in the crook of the elbow, where he was held while the other searched him.”
He read out to the jury one of the interviews given by Mbowane to police after his arrest, in which he claimed he had been influenced by Bhengu to rob people.
When asked how long it took to strangle Mr Williams, Mbowane told police: “Maybe two or three minutes because the man was like fighting because he was a big guy.”
Mbowane told police Mr Williams was still alive when he fell to the ground.
In interview, Mbowane said: “Gabriel grabbed him and choked him and I put my hands in his pocket just to search him, not knowing he was going to lose his life.
“He (Gabriel) took his jacket, his shoes, jacket, mobile phone and £20, I think.”
Mr Smith told the jury that during interview Mbowane said Mr Williams had put up more of a fight than Andrew Owen.
The trial continues.
By Kirsty Marston
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