Parents of Brighton teenager killed in knife attack tried to get help

Mustafa Momand’s parents said his behaviour deteriorated and they feared for his life before he was stabbed in the chest by a 16-year-old on October 5 in Queen’s Road, Brighton.

The 17-year-old was stabbed with so much force that the knife penetrated his breast bone and severed one of his pulmonary arteries, Brighton Youth Court heard.

The court heard that Mr Momand, who knew the defendant, had racked up a £20,000 drug debt and feared being killed due to his outstanding debt.

Mustafa Momand 'wanted to be a lawyer to help exploited children' (Image: Family handout)

His parents Suraya and Noor Momand, from Brighton, said they feared for his safety when he would disappear from home for up to a month and come back with injuries, the court heard.

They suspected him of drug dealing when they discovered cannabis and scales in his room in November 2021 when he was 15.

This escalated to him having 30 bags of crack cocaine, £800 in cash and knuckle dusters hidden in his room just months later, the court heard.

A statement was read out on behalf of his mother by prosecutor Nathan Rasiah KC.

She said: "I was scared for his safety. I felt I was losing my son. I knew something was not right. After his 16th birthday there was a big change in his behaviour.

"He was missing school, was out late and became more aggressive. His behaviour was deteriorating. After this there were periods when he was missing for a month.

"He was arrested at least ten times for drug dealing."

Forensic teams near the scene on the night of the attack

Mrs Momand recalled him going to hospital with two minor stab wounds in November 2022.

"I told him his life was in danger," she said. The court heard that she called the police when her son would go missing and when she discovered he had drugs.

"I constantly told the police and social services that he needed to be in a juvenile prison for his own safety."

Their son was placed in to the care of social services in Bevendean in January 2023.

He was then moved to South Croydon in April 2023 where they felt he might be able to get away from trouble, the court heard.

Mrs Momand met her son for lunch in South Croydon and said he was “very grubby and smelly” which upset her as he “always cared about his appearance before”.

The court heard that he started a business and law A-Level course at college.

“He wanted to be a lawyer to help exploited children,” she said.

The defendant is accused of murder and two other separate incidents in July and August 2023 of threatening another with a bladed article and offensive weapon. He denies all three charges.

The trial continues.