Murder accused denies intending to kill anyone

Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Hassan Jhangur
Hassan Jhangur told Sheffield Crown Court he did not intend to kill or seriously harm anyone [PA Media]

A man accused of murdering a father-of-two who was hit by a car while helping an injured woman in the street has told a court he had no intention of harming anyone.

Hassan Jhangur had armed himself with a knife when he turned up at a house in Sheffield on his sister Amaani Jhangur's wedding day.

Sheffield Crown Court heard that Mr Jhangur hit five people with his car during a brawl outside the property, with passer-by Chris Marrott, 46, killed instantly.

Mr Jhangur, 24, of Whiteways Road, Sheffield, denies Mr Marriott’s murder or manslaughter.

The court previously heard that Mr Jhangur also denies charges of attempted murder and wounding with intent in relation to another victim.

He had admitted causing death by dangerous driving, and charges of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, but denies charges of grievous bodily harm.

Meanwhile, Mr Jhangur's father, Mohammed Jhangur, 56, has denied a charge of perverting the course of justice.

Amaani Jhangur had fallen out with her family about her wedding with Hasan Khan on 27 December 2023, the court heard, with her relatives not attending the ceremony.

Her mother Ambreen Jhangur and sister Nafeesa Jhangur later turned up at the Khans' house, the jury was told, and started throwing items onto the driveway.

An argument between the women and the Khan family led to Nafeesa Jhangur falling to the floor, with Mr Marriott stopping to help.

Prosecutors said Mr Jhangur had first hit Hasan Khan's father, Riasat Khan, who was sent "cartwheeling" over the bonnet, before "driving right over" Mr Marriott and Nafeesa Jhangur.

He also collided with his mother Ambreen Jhangur and Alison Norris, a passing off-duty midwife.

Giving evidence on Tuesday, Mr Jhangur said the family had concerns about Hasan Khan's behaviour with Amaani Jhangur.

They claimed he had been "abusive" about the other Jhangur sisters during a phone call leading up to the wedding, with the defendant calling Hasan Khan to "confront him".

He told jurors: "I was angry, I was upset because the words he used were very inappropriate.

"I told him to back off because it started to get out of hand with him controlling Amaani and using sexual slurs towards my other sisters."

Sheffield Crown Court
Mr Jhangur told Sheffield Crown Court the family had concerns about new brother-in-law Hasan Khan [PA Media]

Mr Jhangur said on the afternoon of the wedding day he was woken up to his family members shouting "they've hit Nafeesa".

He told the court: "I panicked, I'm shocked, I'm concerned for my sister's safety.

"I thought I'll need to protect her."

Mr Jhangur said he got dressed and took a knife to the scene, telling jurors he took the weapon because he thought there would be other male relatives of Mr Khan there.

"I had a gut feeling that if males are involved I'm going to be outmanned," he told jurors.

"My mind was just blank, I was just focusing on getting to the scene."

Asked if he intended to kill or cause serious harm to anybody, Mr Jhangur replied: "Not at all."

The trial continues.

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