'I'll kill you and the police': The final moments before a fatal fall
A 34-year-old Birmingham man plunged to his death from a third-floor window during a police intervention, just moments after he had bitten, attacked, and tried to stab two of his housemates, a coroner's court has heard.
The ten-day inquest into the death of Ayuub Abdi began on November 17 at Birmingham Coroner's Court. Jurors were selected and shown body-worn footage detailing the tragic events of September 6, 2023, at a property on Lansdowne Road in Handsworth.
A night of sudden violence
What began as an ordinary night descended into chaos shortly before 1am. Mr Abdi, who was described by those who knew him as a 'kind-hearted family man', was said to have 'taken something or drunk something' and was acting completely out of character.
One housemate, speaking partly through a translator, told the court he had come downstairs and smelled food burning. Knowing Mr Abdi sometimes forgot his cooking, he went to remind him. Without warning, Mr Abdi slapped him, grabbed a small kitchen knife, and began screaming.
The witness stated: "He was shouting, 'I'm the prophet, I will kill you and I will kill the police.'" The frightened man quickly closed the kitchen door and started recording the incident on his phone, pausing only to call a friend upstairs for help.
The struggle for the knife
When the two men opened the door again, Mr Abdi lunged at them. He tried to stab one of the victims in the neck, coming dangerously close. The court heard how the two friends then grappled with Mr Abdi on the kitchen floor in a desperate attempt to disarm him.
During the struggle, Mr Abdi bit both men—one on the side and chest, the other on his left side—causing significant pain. The witness recounted, "He was biting me so I could let go of his hand. It was very painful but I was very scared in case he used the knife."
Eventually, they managed to take the knife from him. Mr Abdi then calmed down and went into the garden. The two housemates retreated to an upstairs room and called the police at approximately 12:51 am.
The police response and tragic outcome
Officers arrived at the scene following reports of an assault and a man in possession of a knife. About 20 minutes after the emergency call was made, the situation reached its tragic conclusion.
While speaking with officers in his bedroom, Mr Abdi moved closer to an open window behind him. A Taser was deployed, but moments later, he fell from the window, suffering fatal injuries.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) conducted an investigation into the incident and confirmed that no further action would be taken against the officers involved.
The inquest continues as the jury works to determine the full circumstances surrounding this devastating incident in Handsworth.
