A vibrant young man who sustained a fractured ankle in what has been described as a “senseless” attack in London’s West End tragically passed away weeks later, as detailed in court proceedings.

Taha Errami, aged 22, was subjected to a brutal assault involving stomping and punches on Shaftesbury Avenue on June 1, 2024. He succumbed in the hospital five weeks afterward following a cardiac arrest while en route to Paddington Station, the Old Bailey was informed.

The cardiac arrest was attributed to a blood clot that had migrated from the injured ankle to his lungs, the court was told.

Three defendants—27-year-old Malachi Wilson, who has no fixed address; 21-year-old Devonta Rose from Manor Park in east London; and 26-year-old Dennis Kaantharasan from Stratford in east London—have all pleaded not guilty to manslaughter.

Prosecutor Caroline Carberry KC stated, “The individuals responsible for this late-night bout of senseless street violence were the three defendants, and Mr. Errami had no prior association with any of them.”

She explained to the jury that the sequence of events that took place before, during, and after the attack on Shaftesbury Avenue was captured on CCTV footage.

The victim had previously given a statement to the police that was documented on an officer’s body camera, as stated in court.

At approximately 01:15 BST, Mr. Errami approached a police officer seeking assistance and reported being robbed.

He also informed a paramedic at the scene that his leg had been stepped on during the incident, according to the court’s presentation.

Subsequent X-rays revealed a fracture in his left ankle, which was placed in a walker boot. Mr. Errami was provided with crutches and discharged, with instructions to attend a fracture clinic.

The jury was informed that individuals with lower limb fractures requiring immobilization in a cast or a walking boot face an increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Ms. Carberry noted that Mr. Errami was “a young, healthy individual” and did not fit the profile of a patient who would typically require anticoagulant medication, although he did receive a leaflet regarding DVT risks.

In addressing the charge against the defendants, the prosecutor explained to the jury: “The Crown does not argue that the three defendants intended to kill Mr. Errami or even inflict serious bodily harm; rather, they collectively took part in an assault, aware that it could potentially cause him some harm.”

The trial at the Old Bailey is ongoing.