Slough killer stabbed victim 34 times in savage attack after botched drug deal, trial hears

Disturbing footage of a ‘murderous’ attack in Slough, where a man was stabbed 34 times and then run over by his killer, has been shown at the opening of a murder trial.   

Khalil Muhammad is accused of the murder of Frederik Mutala, 23, who was killed during a drug deal gone wrong in Rochfords Gardens, Slough, on September 11, 2024.

Prosecutor Paul Cavin KC told jurors at the first day of a trial in Reading Crown Court today (September 1) that Muhammad ‘did not dispute he was a killer’.

The 27-year-old launched a savage attack on Mr Mutala in which he stabbed his face and body dozens of times and later drove over his victim’s body in a stolen car, the court heard.

Mr Cavin said: “The defendant does not dispute that he is the killer, it is whether he is guilty of manslaughter or murder – which the Crown [prosecution] says he is.”

Muhammad is being tried on one count of murder and another count of possession of a knife in a public place.

Jurors were told that Muhammad’s defence during proceedings would be a ‘medical psychiatric defence’, which could see his conviction reduced from murder to manslaughter.

The trial is taking place in Reading Crown Court (pictured).

‘A murderous attack’

Muhammad met Mr Mutala, who was driving a blue Audi saloon car, in a cul-de-sac in Rochfords Gardens at around 3pm on the day of the attack.

The pair exchanged a large laundry bag containing glass jars filled with cannabis worth a street value of £26,000, the court heard.

A short altercation, captured on CCTV footage shown to the court, saw Mr Mutala drive off with the bag of drugs – and Muhammad in pursuit on foot.

Amid the chase, Muhammad stopped two people in a car and asked them for a tissue for a bleeding gash on his hand.

He turned down an offer to be taken to hospital for the wound, the court heard, and walked away while on the phone. Prosecutors said this was a call with Mr Mutala.

Muhammad had snatched the keys from Mr Mutala’s car as he drove away, which Mr Mutala had now realised and decided to return for.

The pair met back in the cul-de-sac where Muhammad removed the drugs bag and walked away from the vehicle. Mr Mutala then left the vehicle and walked over to Muhammad.

Footage showed the two men in brief conversation before Mr Mutala appeared to lunge towards the drugs.

Mr Cavin said: “At that point he [Muhammad] decides to kill him and launches a murderous attack straight away with his right hand from behind.”

He told the jury: “What’s going to happen next is the most unpleasant of the CCTV that you are going to have to look at.

“Mr Mutala picks up the laundry bag, he turns away from Mr Mummmad.

“Mr Muhammad produces from his waistband at the back of his trousers, a knife, and he attacks him from behind.

“There are 3-4 swinging strikes from his right hand from behind.”

The attack spilled out of the cul-de-sac and into the main road in Rochfords Gardens, where Muhammad continues to swipe and slash at Mr Mutala.

In the CCTV footage, a cyclist could be seen passing between Mr Mutala’s body and Muhammad as the killer skulked back to his victim’s car.

Muhammad then threw the drugs back into the Audi and drove over Mr Mutala’s body, as the car swung out into the main road at speed.

Forensics tents at the crime scene.

'Unsurvivable’ injuries

Emergency services were unable to revive Mr Mutala, who was pronounced dead at the scene. 

A pathologist’s report after his death found 34 stab wounds to the face and body, of which many, the court heard, were deemed individually ‘unsurvivable’.

Muhammad had been captured on speed cameras as he tried to make his getaway, and soon had police officers in pursuit.

He was chased through Slough before being stopped by armed police who smashed through a car window to apprehend him.

Mr Cavin told the court that Muhammad’s defence, led by Andrew Hall KC, would seek a ‘mental psychiatric’ case to establish a lesser cause of manslaughter.

But he said the prosecution would provide its own expert: “The Crown have consulted our own expert, who you will also be hearing from, who fundamentally disagrees with theirs [defence’s].

“He will tell you that in his opinion the defendant was not suffering from the mental disorder identified.”

The trial continues.