Man fatally ‘stabbed in heart’ outside Croydon bowling alley after comment about Valentine’s date

Man fatally ‘stabbed in heart’ outside Croydon bowling alley after comment about Valentine’s date Ellis Anim-Annor, 29, is accused of murdering Lorik Abazi, 22, and injuring others outside Tenpin Croydon Bowling Alley in the early hours of February 15 A man was fatally stabbed in the heart outside a tenpin bowling alley after his killer allegedly took exception to a comment about his Valentine’s Day date’s appearance, a court has heard. Ellis Anim-Annor, 29, is accused of murdering Lorik Abazi, 22, and injuring others outside the venue in Croydon, south London, in the early hours of February 15.e Earlier that night, the defendant and his girlfriend, Ines Bernado, had been celebrating Valentine’s Day at Tenpin Croydon Bowling Alley where Mr Abazi, his partner and friends had also gone. Prosecutor Anthony Orchard KC said there was no trouble inside the venue and both groups left at about 1am, with the defendant going to a nearby drive-through McDonald’s restaurant. He then returned to the area and confronted Mr Abazi’s party outside the bowling alley in the Valley Retail Park car park, it was alleged. Mr Orchard told jurors: “The reason behind the confrontation is not entirely clear. There is some suggestion one of Lorik’s group had earlier remarked on Ms Bernado’s appearance. “The confrontation escalated into a fight. The defendant had armed himself with a knife. During the fight he used it to stab Lorik Abazi in the heart. Two other members of Lorik Abazi’s group also suffered slash or stab injuries.” Emergency services were called at 1.19am and Mr Abazi was treated at the scene and then taken to Croydon University Hospital, where he died at 2.01am. The other injured men were treated at the scene and taken to St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south London. Anim-Annor, from Bromley, south London, has denied murdering Mr Abazi and wounding a second man with intent. The Old Bailey trial continues.