A BITTER feud between two neighbouring families which ended with a man receiving serious stab wounds was caused by a parking dispute, a court heard.

Hamza Ishtiaq, 20, appeared before Preston Crown Court accused of stabbing Shamas Khan following an argument between their families in Whalley New Road, Blackburn.

The victim was stabbed in the stomach and the knife punctured his left kidney, the court heard.

The prosecution said an argument had broken out after a member of the Khan family had been reversing up the back alley at around 6.30pm on June 24 and members of the Ishtiaq family took offence.

Robert Kearney, prosecuting, said members of the Ishtiaq family came out of their home and a series of insults were exchanged in Punjabi.

The driver, Muktar Khan, was also threatened with a walking stick before driving off and reporting the Ishtiaq family to the police.

The court heard Muktar Khan then called members of his family to tell them what had happened.

The prosecution said members of the Ishtiaq family then went to remonstrate with the Khans and a brick was thrown through the window of one of their cars.

Hearing the car alarm sound, the court was told members of the Khan family went outside and were confronted by the Ishtiaq family.

Mr Kearney said shouting from both families could then be heard in the street.

Hamza Ishtiaq was then seen with a baseball bat, the court was told, but this was taken off him by the victim.

Mr Kearney said: “The defendant disappeared for some time and went back into his house and came back.

“This was when the prosecution say he went to arm himself with the knife.

“Shamraiz Malik, (a relative of Ishtiaq) arrived and walked past two family members and right up to the complainant.

“He slapped his own face and invited them to try to assault him.

“It was at that point the defendant was seen with the knife in his hand.

“There was another coming together and he stabbed Shamas Khan in the stomach.”

Hamza Ishtiaq was charged with wounding with intent and two counts of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

Mobile phone footage of part of the quarrel was played to the court, showing the two families arguing.

Part way through the video Ishtiaq was seen brandishing a knife.

Mr Kearney said one of the victim’s family heard Hamza Ishtiaq’s mother, Nabila Ishtiaq, shout sexual threats towards the female members of the Khan family.

The court heard during the fracas Marriyah Khan, the victim’s cousin, was grabbed by the hair and death threats were made to her.

Mr Kearney said: “She said she saw the defendant coming towards her with a knife in his hand.

“As he ran past her she screamed ‘he’s got a knife’ and was then pulled away by members of her family.”

After Shamas Khan collapsed police arrived and arrested Hamza Ishtiaq.

Mr Kearney said Hamza Ishtiaq was still acting aggressively and attempting to wind up the other family after he was arrested.

He also made threats towards the victim’s mother before he was arrested and taken away.

(PROCEEDING)