Drug dealer killed his rival in broad daylight near Central Milton Keynes to 'protect his turf', court hears

Lee Sopp fatally wounded Mohamud Hashi, who was known as Snoop, to protect his “turf” from the Somalis in Milton Keynes, a jury heard today.

Sopp, now 25, shouted “Yo Snoop” before lunging and stabbing him in the thigh causing him to quickly bleed to death.

Opening the case at Luton Crown Court, prosecutor Stuart Trimmer QC said: “This defendant is a drug dealer. He deals drugs on the streets of Milton Keynes.

“He murdered Mohamud Hashi who was also on 11th December last year dealing drugs. Lee Sopp killed him in order to protect his turf."

He said the weapon used by Sopp, who was known as Sosa, was a “fearsome” Rider Stacked Bowie knife.

Mr Trimmer said the location of the killing - in a wooded area between Fishermead and the city centre - is a place where drugs were regularly sold.

He went on: “There is no doubt that the defendant was there and unlawfully killed Mohamud Hashi. He has now admitted the manslaughter of Mohamud Hashi and the unlawful possession of that knife.

“The crown say this was murder, not manslaughter. In driving the knife into the body of Mohamud Hashi he at least intended to cause really serious harm and that is murder.”

When a search was carried out at his address, several weapons were found, including the knife that was used to kill 22-year-old Mr Hashi.

What Sopp was wearing was described by Mr Trimmer as ‘Crusader-style chain mail’ with a cross on it that he had purchased on line. He said: “I am wearing chainmail to protect myself from getting stabbed.”

The jury was told Class A drugs and cash were also recovered.

Mr Trimmer said: “This defendant’s collection of dangerous weapons is directly related to the danger drug dealing business he conducted.

“His phone contained messages relating to the violence he had in mind in relation to Somalis. The crown say he armed himself specifically to go up against other drug dealers.“

On the day of the killing Mohamud Hashi was picked up by his friend Abdullahi Koshin Musse.

CCTV showed them arriving in the car park of the shopping centre in Milton Keynes just before 2pm. At around 14.57, Mohamud Hashi received a call from a Lee Davis and they arranged to meet at the Skate Park bridge. Mr Davis went there with another homeless man Joshua Morgan.

They went into the bushes to do the drug deal when Sopp arrived and, according to Joshua Morgan, shouted: “Yo snoop” lunged and stabbed Mr Hashi in the groin area. He said he was jumping around “like a mad man” asking where the drugs were.

A woman who was on her way to collect her daughter from school passed over the Skate Park bridge and heard shouting in the bushes, seeing one man with a knife.

She went to look and found Mohamud Hashi face down and bleeding heavily. She called the police and ambulance crews were called, but he was pronounced dead a 16.41, having quickly bled to death.

Mr Trimmer said: “The cause of death was a single stab wound to his right thigh. “It entered his body for 12cm causing complete transection or cut of the right femoral vein and 80 per cent of the right femoral artery.”

Sopp returned to the murder scene between 16.57 and 16.58 that evening and recorded the emergency services activities. He spoke to the police and asked what happened.

The next day, 12 December last year, Lee Sopp went to Kerrie Clarke’s address in Benbow Court, Shenley Church End to enforce a £20 drug debt. There he is alleged to have boasted of the killing the previous day.

“He arrived and when she opened the door he forced his way in and grabbed her by the throat and tried to strangle her. He threatened her with a sword. He was shouting, demanded his money. He smashed items, stabbed the sofa and damaged her child’s toys,” said the prosecutor.

She suffered puncture wounds to the legs after being stabbed with the sword.

At 13.02 the police received an 999 call. Armed officers arrived and saw Sopp wielding a Folded Steel Katana sword. The police gained entry and arrested Sopp at 13.31.

The sword was found wedged in an open window and bore the engraving “Sosa’s vengeance.”

Sopp, of Daniels Welch, denies murder, aggravated burglary and wounding Ms Clarke with intent.

The jury has been told he has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Hashi, two charges having an offensive weapon (the Bowie knife and sword) , possessing crack cocaine, possessing heroin and possessing criminal property.

The case is proceeding.