Witnesses describe ‘chase’ on Nottingham street before Ricardo Cotteral’s death

Two women who were trying to get into a Nottingham club have described the moments before Ricardo Cotteral’s death in court. The first witness, Victoria Jablonska, who appeared at the Nottingham Crown Court on Friday, June 9, recalled seeing the man being “chased” on Broad Street.

She and Anita Dabrowski gave evidence behind a screen during the trial in relation to the death of Ricardo Cotteral, who was on weekend release from prison when the incident took place. Ms Jablonska was the first one in court and described how the night went before heading to the Wax Bar on Broad Street in the early hours of April 24 last year.

Answering prosecution’s questions, she told the court how she had a few drinks throughout the night initially with Ms Dabrowski, and then joined by a friend who they met at Turtle Bay.

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They then went to Truth Bar but did not go in – and jumped in a taxi instead to go to Wax Bar. The witness said she did not go into the venue, but waited outside instead.

She recalls seeing Mr Cotteral, and said she thought he was “attractive” at the time. Ms Jablonska added that she was “feeling fine, and I was not drunk” before proceeding to give details about what she saw.

“I heard shouting but I did not pay attention to that”, she added. “It was a male screaming, shouting – it was quite aggressive.”

What she saw next was a man running the road – with three other males “running behind him”. She identified the first man as Ricardo, before adding: “I did not think it was anything serious. I thought they were just playing around.”

Asked by prosecutor John Lloyd-Jones KC if that thought changed later, Ms Jablonska said ‘yes’. Describing the males, Ms Jablonska went on to add that the first man was wearing a “navy puffer coat” and his hair was covered.

She said that all the men running behind Ricardo had dark skin. Ms Jablonska said that they were all running towards PRYZM, on Lower Parliament Street.

She then recalled seeing the man in the puffer jacket catching up with Mr Cotteral. The court heard how the men running ended up in the middle of the road, when Mr Cotteral tripped.

Ms Jablonska added: “The man attacked Ricardo. He seemed more dominant and Ricardo did not do anything.”

She described seeing Mr Cotteral on the ground, “being punched”. Ms Dabrowski, the second witness giving evidence added that Mr Cotteral was “in pain”.

She added: “We came up too help and we realised he was bleeding. Someone moved him on the pavement so he was not in the road.

“He was in pain, bleeding. I think someone said he was stabbed.”

It has been alleged that Ricardo Cotteral was stabbed and attacked by a group of men in Nottingham, and five men have since been indicted on the charge of murder. This includes Ijah Lavelle Moore, 31, of Woodfield Road, Broxtowe, Wade Smith, 37, of Helmsdale Gardens, Top Valley, Daniel Francis, 27, of Shakespeare Street, Richard Anderson, 25, of no fixed address and Malcolm Francis, 29, of no fixed address.

The trial continues.

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