Paul Foster was described by his family as “a kind-hearted and funny man who would light up any room”
Paul Foster, 47, who was fatally stabbed in West Derby(Image: Family handout)
Five people accused of murdering a dad in a West Derby flat block have entered their pleas in court. Paul Foster was fatally stabbed inside a property on Muirhead Avenue at around 1.40am on Tuesday, October 15 2024.
Emergency services were called after reports a 47-year-old man had sustained serious injuries. Mr Foster, of the Newsham Park area, was taken to hospital with a puncture wound but died from his injuries.
Four people – Dylan Blundell, 27, of no fixed address, Elsadig Abrahim, 61, of Croxteth Road, in Toxteth, Michael Fields, 50, of no fixed address, and Sarah Kasseum, 41, of Lower Breck Road, in Anfield – were charged with his murder in October last year.
A fifth person, Zayd Alasaly, 24, of Corinto Street in Toxteth, was also charged with murder the following month.
All five suspects appeared in Liverpool Crown Court today as they entered their pleas to a slew of charges. Along with murder, they stand accused of robbing a quantity of controlled drugs and cash from Mr Foster, and a mobile phone from a Lindsay Murphy, on October 15 2024, the same day Mr Foster was killed.
They also face charges of possession of a bladed article, possession of an imitation firearm to commit an offence, and concealing a firearm on the same day.
The four men appeared in court via video links from prison. Abrahim, Fields, and Alasaly sat together in a cell, while Blundell appeared from a separate room.
Fields, wearing a black coat, blue top and glasses, pleaded not guilty to all charges. Abrahim, wearing a grey tracksuit, and Alasaly, with a light grey coat and a short black beard, also pleaded not guilty to the same.
Kasseum appeared in the docks in court, wearing a black gilet and a black long-sleeved top and sporting dyed, dark purple hair. She similarly pleaded not guilty to all five charges put to her.
Blundell, wearing a brown shirt and a black sleeveless jacket, pleaded guilty to robbery and concealing an imitation firearm, namely a shadow airgun. He pleaded not guilty to murder, possession of a bladed article, and possession of an imitation firearm to commit an offence.
It was announced that the case would proceed to trial, listed to begin on April 7 this year. It is expected to go on for five weeks.
Following Mr Foster’s death. his family said in a tribute: “Paul was a much-loved son, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and a true friend to many. He was known for his sense of fun and infectious smile.
“He was a kind-hearted and funny man who would light up any room. He will be sorely missed, but never forgotten by his heart-broken family and friends.”