A SUSPECT in the Hassan Kul Hawadleh case hurled his shoe across the Old Bailey courtroom at the judge who is overseeing his trial.

Today's extraordinary outburst by Onochie Madekwe, of Buck Lane, Kingsbury, disrupted proceedings just before midday, as the trial entered its fourteenth week.

During legal discussions, Mr Madekwe, who is defending himself, took off his shoe and launched it out of the dock and towards Judge Gerald Gordon after taking exception at one of his comments.

Although the incident happened while the jury was out of the courtroom, 33-year-old Mr Madekwe chose to discuss it during his defence case this afternoon.

He told jurors: “Today before, I had to throw my shoe in protest because Judge Gordon told me I couldn't do my opening speech.

“I took my shoe off and threw it at him. You want me to sit here and be quiet and be convicted, well I'm not going to do that – I'm innocent.”

Mr Madekwe began his defence case today, arguing the prosecution is based on “stupid skullduggery” and lies.

He has admitted being there when 19-year-old Hassan was stabbed to death on the forecourt of the Total garage in High Road, Wealdstone, but says he did not know co-defendent Abdul Khan had a knife.

He said: “If a knife was waved around, I would have been able to see it but that wasn't the case. I say (Khan) had it secreted about him – he wasn't waving it around.”

Mr Khan, of Enderley Road, Wealdstone, admits landing the wounds that killed Hassan, of West Hendon, but denies murder – saying he was carrying the knife for protection.

Mr Madekwe is also charged with murder and the attempted murder and grievous bodily harm of Hassan's friend Abdiwahab Guiled.

However, he says CCTV footage shows he did not carry out the attack on Mr Guiled, and that he was chasing a third man, Ahmed Muse, at the time Hassan was stabbed.

Mr Madekwe's defence case is expected to continue tomorrow, after which the other defendants will have the chance to outline their defences.

The other co-defendants Andrew Spence, 22, of Ealing, and Michael Anthony Boyde, 37, of Willesden, also deny murder, attempted murder, and grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues.