A WITNESS claims a man accused of attempted murder ran over his foot days before the alleged machete assault which left a man with his face 'hanging off'.

However, Usman Multani and Kaasim Multani, suspects in the attempted murder, claim their rental car came under attack with weapons as they drove through Midland Road and Wyld's Lane in the days before the alleged attack with weapons, including a machete.

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Usman Multani, 27, of Westminster Road, Ronkswood, Kaasim Multani, 23, also of Westminster Road and Shahenul Alam, 32, of Ivor Road, Sparkhill, deny attempted murder, violent disorder and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

We have previously reported how Mr Saleem suffered a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain following the attack at around 1am in Wyld's Lane, Worcester on November 24, 2019.

A staff nurse called emergency services from Worcester A&E, describing the victim as having 'a stab wound to the face' and 'half his face hanging off his skull'.

However, the evidence heard at Worcester Crown Court on Thursday concerned the build up to that attack rather than the attack itself.

The witness, who cannot be identified by order of the court, said he was with a group in the car park of Midland Road, Worcester, when he saw the 'new shape' Mercedes A-Class in the early hours of November 22, 2019.

He told a jury he recognised the car as one he had seen on rental web page and 'the car was stopping' and people inside were 'shouting stuff out'.

The witness then repeated two offensive terms he said were shouted from the Mercedes before it 'sped off towards Wyld's Lane'.

"A few people ran after that car" he said. He said running towards the car was 'just a reaction kind of thing - because of the direction the car was going'.

He said he too 'just followed the crowd' before the car did a U-turn near Lea and Perrins factory in Midland Road until it was facing towards the group.

The witness estimated the car was being driven at over 25mph when there were a lot of people in the road.

"It sped through us you could say" the witness told the jury.

He described the Mercedes approaching the roundabout and, as it stopped, the driver said: "I will take any one of you. Come for me. I will take you all."

As the driver learned out of the window, the witness said he recognised him as Usman Multani. He also said he recognised the front seat passenger as Kaasim Multani, Usman's brother.

He described seeing the outline of somebody else in the car which be believed to be Luke Bridger because of his jacket.

The car then turned back around and headed again towards the group at 15 to 20mph, he said.

"There were quite a few people stood in the road. I saw the car charging towards a few people. I pulled somebody back then it had run over my foot and clipped my knee, my left knee."

The witness said at the time did not feel anything but that the pain 'got worse later'. However, he accepted he did not go to hospital, see a doctor or report the matter to police.

He said the police had already been called by 'many people'. Michael Newport, defending Usman Multani, cross-examined the witness.

"You know that car was attacked, don't you?" he said.

The witness replied 'no'.

"You know that car was set upon by people who ran out of the centre with weapons?"

Again the witness answered 'no'. Mr Newport said the back window of the Mercedes had been smashed with a bat or heavy weapon.

"Someone threw a brick at the car" said Mr Newport who also showed the jury photos of the damage, provided by the car rental company Thrifty.

The witness replied: "Not that I saw."

Asked why he ran after the car he said: "I just ran along with the crowd."

Mr Newport added: "People weren't running after the car to say hello to the driver of the car or the occupants of that car, were they?"

"No" replied the witness. The witness also confirmed that Usman Multani had contacted him the following day to apologise.

The trial continues.