Deliveroo driver Takieddine Boudhane was stabbed to death in Finsbury Park by a driver who was “not prepared to let matters rest,” a court heard.
Plumber Nathan Smith, 28, has denied murdering 30-year-old chef and delivery driver Mr Boudhane in a confrontation on January 3, 2020.
Smith fled to Austria the day after the incident but returned 17 months later. He is appearing this week at a trial at the Old Bailey.
The court heard that Smith was driving a VW caddy van and Mr Boudhane a moped when they both came to a stop at traffic lights in north London.
The pair then turned right onto Lennox Road and became involved in a dispute, prompting Mr Boudhane to drive alongside the van.
From CCTV footage, it appeared the men exchanged words and the encounter was “not a friendly one”, prosecutor Julian Evans QC said.
Mr Boudhane then parked in nearby Charteris Road alongside another biker when Smith emerged brandishing a knife, Mr Evans told the court.
Opening proceedings, Mr Evans said Mr Boudhane had a screwdriver and swung his helmet in self-defence. Mr Smith, the barrister said, was “simply not prepared to let things rest there” and added that CCTV showed him lunging at the victim with a knife as he ducked to avoid the helmet blows.
Mr Boudhane suffered a three inch wound but, with his companion, chased after the fleeing Smith before collapsing at the scene - where he died.
Meanwhile, Smith drove home and said nothing to his family about what had happened, jurors were told.
The next day, he allegedly used his brother’s passport and bank card to take a flight from Luton airport to Austria.
When police searched for him at his parents’ address, the defendant’s father showed them a video believed to be from his son featuring views of lakes and mountains.
Police went on to recover Smith’s van and allegedly found bloodstains matching the victim’s DNA.
In February 2020, an arrest warrant was issued for Smith and he was met by British officers in Lisbon in June 2021, who escorted him back to the UK.
The trial continues.
