'Volatile' on street on night of death

PCs Andrew Eddlestone and Tim Hitchin told Preston Crown Court they were on patrol in an unmarked car when called to North Street, Colne, on September 29, the night Sean Whyte died.

Both men described seeing two men fighting as they approached the junction of North Street and Keighley Avenue.

Hasan Mumtaz, 18, of North Street, denies murder, wounding and violent disorder, his brother Wasim Mumtaz, 21, also of North Street denies violent disorder.

PC Eddlestone told the jury he got out of the car and saw a young Asian male, who he later discovered was Hasan Mumtaz with a knife.

He described chasing the man down North Street and seeing him go into a house.

He said he banged on the door of the house which he believed to be locked and it was opened after about 30 seconds.

PC Eddlestone said: "In front of me were three Asian males they attempted to come out of the door and I was aware that if these people went out there was every chance there would be more fighting so I ushered them back in.

"Hasan Mumtaz was stood in the living room at the bottom of the stairs, I looked towards him and said I wanted him to come outside with me.

"I was frightened for myself because I was on my own, he just said to me 'what for?' I approached him and said I was arresting him on suspicion of wounding, as I said this to him he threw a punch at me which hit me in the nose, I grabbed his left wrist and snapped the first handcuff on. He punched me and spat at me."

As PC Eddlestone left the house with Hasan he told the court he found a pair of scissors behind a cushion.

PC Tim Hitchin told the court he had run down North Street with his colleague and had looked through the window of the house. He said he had then gone to attend to a male he saw lying on the floor.

Questioned by Wasim Mumtaz's barrister, Ken Hinds, PC Hitchin confirmed that the atmosphere in the street had seemed very volatile and that most of the people in the street were white.

(Proceeding)