Murder suspect declines to give evidence at Mushin Ahmed trial

MURDER suspect Dale Jones has declined to give evidence at his trial for the death of Mushin Ahmed (81).

Prosecutors finished making their case at Sheffield Crown Court this afternoon, having presented over a week of evidence.

Judge Mr Justice Stephen Males reminded Jones (30), of East Bawtry Road, that deciding not to testify may lead the jury to make assumptions about his innocence or guilt.

Mr Andrew O'Byrne, defending Jones, confirmed that Jones was aware of this.

The jury heard that Jones made no comment through six police interviews, lasting nearly one hour each, conducted before and after Mr Ahmed's death last August 21.

Co-defendant Damien Hunt (30), of Doncaster Road, Clifton, told police he tried to stop Jones as he kicked and stamped on Mr Ahmed in a cocaine-fueled frenzy.

Today, the jury heard that Jones admitted four violent offences at court between 2002 and 2015.

In 2003, he pleaded guilty to forcing his way into a friend's home and assaulting him.

In 2008, he admitted an attack on an ex-partner, during which he pushed his fingers into her eyes.

Later the same year he admitted another assault against a man, punching him unconscious then continuing to hit him.

In 2015 he admitted a public order offence, during which he kicked a man in the head.

Both defendants deny murder. The trial continues.