POLICE blocked off access to Reading Crown Court today after an incident took place as the jury read out verdicts in a murder trial.

After almost four weeks, the verdicts were turned in the murder trial of 24-year-old Mohammed Rafaqit Kayani who died from a fatal stab wound to the chest during an incident in Keel Drive on August 30, 2021.

Two men were charged with Mr Kayani’s death, Riaz Miah, 21, of no fixed abode, and Hassan Al-Kubanji, 21, of Peabody Avenue, London.

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Both men were found guilty of murder today (March 9) at about 2.20pm leading to an incident inside the court room.

According to an eyewitness, the defendants began shouting as well as people in the public gallery ‘banging’ on the dock window.

It was heard that threats were made to the jury who were ‘climbing over their desks’ to leave the room.

Judge Heather Norton, who presided over the case, was praised for her management of the situation as she prioritised removing the jury members.

The eyewitness said that members of the jury and the family involved in the case were safely escorted from the court.

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Another eyewitness said an incident also occurred outside on the steps leading up to court but added that the ‘scuffle’ didn’t last long before police were involved.

Several police vehicles were called to the court, opposite Forbury Gardens, and a line of officers formed preventing access to the front of the building for 40 minutes.

Police vehicles also surrounded the front and side of court and people were advised to find different routes to get around court as they were refused access past.

Thames Valley Police have since confirmed the ‘disturbance’. A spokesperson for the force said: “Officers attended and arrested two people, one on suspicion of a public order offence and the other on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. They remain in police custody.”

After the incident, court resumed and Judge Norton reassured a jury in another case residing in the same court room that incidents like this are ‘incredibly rare’.

She said: “Someone may have been aware of a disturbance that arose as a result of those verdicts.

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“That kind of disturbance is incredibly rare and it was a very particular case. I have absolutely no reason to even begin to imagine that you will have anything like that in this case.”

Sentencing will take place at the same court on a different date.