Murder-accused 'controlled' autistic partner before death

The mother of an autistic man allegedly murdered by his partner has told a jury she watched her son become increasingly controlled and frightened during the relationship.

Nadia Younis, giving evidence at Birmingham Crown Court on Thursday, said her son Ismail Younis, 24, was "trusting of everyone", making him particularly vulnerable.

She alleged there were incidents in which the accused, Imran Uddin, would take away her son's shoes, smash his phone and monitor his movements.

Uddin, 33, denies murdering Younis, who was found dead at an address on Richmond Road in Hockley, Birmingham, on 20 August last year. The trial - two days into proceedings - is yet to hear details of Younis's cause of death.

The court heard how Uddin and Yousin met in 2024 but eight months into their relationship, Yousin's mother noticed bruises, cuts and injuries which her son eventually admitted had been caused by his partner.

The alleged taking away of Younis's shoes had meant he could not go to work, the jury was told.

"[Uddin] was a narcissist who was controlling Ismail... Ismail would bow down and allow him to shout at him as if he were a child," said prosecuting counsel William Boyce KC.

The jury also heard evidence that Younis once texted his mother with the words "my life is in danger, you need to come" after claiming he had been pushed down stairs.

He would often ask his mother to speak in the background when on the phone to prove where he was, the court heard.

At 15 he was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and autism, and as a result was prescribed with medication to help with symptoms.

"He never got angry [after starting medication] as he did in the beginning…he focused on his studies, he wanted to study biomedical science," the court heard.

The court was also told that as he got older, he became trusting of strangers.

When asked whether she thought the defendant saw her son as vulnerable and weak because he depended on her, Nadia Younis responded "yes" through tears.

"There was a lot of jealousy and distrust in the relationship which led to heated arguments and tensions," she said.

On the night before he died, Younis called his mum to pick him up from Uddin's Richmond Road home, the court heard.

"Your son was in distress but pleased to see you...he hurried into the car and told you to lock the doors," Boyce said to the witness.

Boyce added that she had told police that Uddin "looked enraged but had teary eyes... he asked you to pray for him".

The court heard how the following day, security camera footage recorded the two men at the entrance of Younis's workplace, a shop.

Younis stood by the door while Uddin tried to force his way in, prompting an immediate intervention by the shop manager and security, the court heard.

The defendant later returned and left with Younis who took a late lunch break.

Boyce said Younis "wouldn't be seen again".

The court had previously seen CCTV footage featuring both men together hours before the death.

In it, Uddin was seen holding hands with Younis as they travelled together.

Defending Uddin, Martin Rutherford KC told the court that Younis "at times suffered from uncontrollable anger".

The court heard how Uddin claimed he would hit the victim back, retaliating to being struck first.

Jurours were told that Younis's mother had only met Uddin for the first time a month before the death, and told police she did not think their disputes were violent.

"[You told officers] you were used to overhearing their childish arguments, they often sounded like two children bickering so thought nothing of it at the time," Rutherford said, referring to Nadia Younis's police statement.

When asked whether she had seen the defendant hit her son, she said no.

The trial continues.

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