Victim's wife 'in dispute' with accused

THE wife of an alleged murder victim has told a court she had been involved in a neighbours dispute with the man accused of killing her husband.

Farzana Mirza, 40, told the High Court in Edinburgh yesterday that she had been afraid of Mustafa Elsherkisi, 49, from the first day he moved into flats near her home.

Elsherkisi is on trial accused of hitting Mohammed Mirza, 47, on the body with a knife and murdering him. The offence, which is alleged to have been racially aggravated, is said to have happened at Stenhouse Gardens North, Edinburgh, on May 26 this year.

Mrs Mirza, who is from Pakistan, said she had argued with Elsherkisi after he blocked her car in its space, and allowed his dog to foul in her garden.

The care worker said Elsherkisi had sounded the horn of his car on the first day he moved to the flats and she had moved her vehicle. She said: "After that he parked very close and I couldn't get out when I wanted to."

The mother-of-two told the court she had spoken to the police about the issue and had also complained about his dog.

Elsherkisi denies assaulting and murdering Mr Mirza. He also denies uttering racist remarks and breaching the peace on the same day at St Leonards Police Station, Edinburgh. He has lodged a special defence of self defence.

The trial continues.