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Andre Warner flees Gillingham home on New Year's Day after attack with knife, hammer and knuckleduster - Justin Burr denies assault

A man fled his home naked after three men armed with a knife, hammer and knuckleduster attacked him in his bathroom, a court has been told.

Andre Warner was taking a shower at lunchtime on New Year's Day last year when he was confronted by the men, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Mr Warner managed to knock the knife away and get down the stairs to his front door, followed by the men, who carried on the attack outside where another man stabbed Mr Warner in the shoulder with a wooden ice pick.

The case was heard at Maidstone Crown Court
The case was heard at Maidstone Crown Court

As a result Mr Warner was left with a broken jaw, cuts and bruising to his head, face and chest and a split nose.

Justin Burr, of High Street, Chatham, denies causing grievous harm to Mr Warner.

John Traversi, prosecuting, told the jury the men arrived at Mr Warner’s Gillingham home in Burr’s taxi and were let in by Michael Fletcher, a friend of Mr Warner, who was staying with him.

Mr Warner and Burr had been friends since childhood and were best men at each other’s wedding. But they had fallen out following a dispute over money.

"One had a hammer which Mr Warner grabbed while Burr started beating him round the head. Another man began hitting Mr Warner with a knuckleduster" - John Traversi, prosecuting

“Mr Warner saw Burr standing in his bathroom making offensive remarks about owing him money and making racist remarks,” Mr Traversi said.

“Burr had a knife in his hand and came towards Mr Warner while he was in the shower. It was a bread knife, Mr Warner knocked the knife out of Burr’s hand and two of the other men who had entered the house came into the bathroom.

“One had a hammer which Mr Warner grabbed while Burr started beating him round the head. Another man began hitting Mr Warner with a knuckleduster.”

Mr Traversi said Mr Warner got downstairs and ran outside – still naked – where Burr continued to assault him.

He told the jury: “One of the other men grabbed Mr Warner by the testicles and Mr Fletcher was chased down the road. They left when Mr Fletcher returned carrying a house brick.”

After the assault Mr Warner had to have an operation to fix plates in his jaw. Burr was arrested on January 3 and made no comment when interviewed by police.

The trial continues.


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