Co-defendent "destroyed my life" says Glasgow terror accused

Published on Wednesday 26 November 2008 12:12

AN NHS doctor accused of terrorism said his friend and co-defendant had "destroyed my life", a court heard today.

Mohammed Asha, 28, said that Bilal Abdulla, 29, had "betrayed me".

Giving evidence for a fourth day in the trial for an alleged car bombing campaign, at Woolwich Crown Court, Asha said: "He used me. He betrayed me and he destroyed my life.

"My previous question I asked was, am I going to resume with my normal life?

"These are my concerns at the time. What are the consequences of this if he's involved? That is what I'm here for."

Asha went on to tell the jury what he thought of Abdulla describing himself as "reckless".

"I listened like all of us to his explanation about being reckless and careless.

"I'm not sure how genuine that is. It's more about selfishness really and he probably hasn't thought about it.

"The whole thing is stupid and impulsive. What he thought about doing. In a way he should have thought about it," he said.

The jury also heard that Abdulla believed his own actions were "legitimate".

Asha said: "His rationale would have been legitimate collateral damage in pursuit of bringing the attention back to the Iraqi cause, whatever was his final end or target.

"I think he thought it was a legitimate sacrifice."

The court also heard evidence that the pair disagreed over the attention they paid to their religion.

"Bilal is clearly no doubt much more devout than me," said Asha.

He continued: "My life has always been hard work, family and entertainment. Religion came as a complementary element. It wasn't a dominant ideal at all. I used to watch at least two movies a week.

"That was one of the criticisms that Bilal directed at me."

The jurors were told that Abdulla would tell Asha: "You are either working or watching movies all the time. You've got to have a balanced life and worship more."

Asha and Abdulla are on trial accused of conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions last summer.

They deny the offences.

The men were behind a car bomb attack in London's West End and a suicide attack on Glasgow Airport, the court has heard.

Kafeel Ahmed died of burns several weeks after he drove a jeep into the airport and smothered himself in burning petrol

At the time of their arrests, Abdulla worked as a junior doctor at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, while Asha was employed by the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

Asha told the jury he did not call the police about his suspicions over his friend's involvement in terrorism because he was "frozen by fear".

After his arrest, investigators found a number of files on his computer containing extremist material, the court heard.

These included an anti-American document which said: "It's your duty to terrorise them and those that support them."

Jonathan Laidlaw QC, prosecuting, told the jury that a video file contained beheading of hostages and attacks on coalition forces and their vehicles.

During questioning about his computer, Asha maintained that it had been set up by Abdulla and he had not opened the extremist files.

He also dismissed their contents, saying: "They hijack the word Jihad to explain their own agenda. Their explanations are twisted. Twisted ideologies and arguments."

Asha was asked why he had copied one particularly extremist poem and he told the jury it was necessary to have it in front of him so that he could write a "critique or comment on or oppose" it.

Mr Laidlaw went on to ask him: "Is your evidence to the jury that you had never discussed with Bilal Abdulla that the provision of funds by you may discharge your obligation to violent Jihad?"

Asha replied: "I'm doing my Jihad in my hospital and at home with my wife and son."

Earlier Abdulla's barrister, Jim Sturman QC, spoke of his client's visit to family in Iraq. It was a trip which Asha had told the court he was concerned would result in his friend becoming involved in violence.

Mr Sturman said: "He was torn by his obligations to his family which on the one hand drove him to want to go home and on the other hand honouring their desire for him to stay safe over here."

He went on: "Every time someone died he felt more guilty that he wasn't there with his friends and family to defend them."

Asha agreed with this summary.

Mr Laidlaw suggested to Asha that he had not been telling the truth about his political opinions, to which he replied: "I am absolutely truthful with you and I haven't lied at all about my views."

The trial continues tomorrow.