Younis said: “I want out from him and I feel suffocated.”
A Birmingham Crown Court jury has heard that Ismail Younis told a friend he wanted “out” of his relationship with Imran Uddin and felt “suffocated” shortly before his death.
Uddin is accused of murdering 24-year-old Younis, whose body was found at an address on Richmond Road, Hockley, Birmingham, on August 20, 2025.
Uddin denies the charge.
On the fourth day of proceedings, a witness known to both men gave evidence from behind a screen.
The witness told the court he had previously been involved with Uddin after meeting him through a gay escorting website.
He said Uddin initially introduced him as his cousin, before the pair became friends.
However, their friendship later became strained, with the witness describing Uddin’s attitude as “his way or no way”.
The court heard that the witness believed Uddin wanted situations to happen on his terms and thought he was always right.
Jurors were shown messages between the witness and Uddin concerning his treatment of Younis.
One message from the witness stated: “No wonder he wants out”, while another said: “You suffocate the poor lad”.
Another message accused Uddin of being distrustful, stating: “You don’t trust anyone… you think everyone is out to do you over.”
The jury previously heard allegations that Uddin subjected Younis to controlling behaviour during their relationship.
This allegedly included keeping some of Younis’s personal belongings from him.
The court was told such behaviour was particularly distressing for Younis, who had been formally diagnosed with autism and obsessive compulsive disorder.
The witness said Younis contacted him after becoming suspicious that Uddin had been unfaithful.
The pair subsequently became friendly and arranged to meet on the day Younis died.
Giving evidence, the witness described Younis as being “crying and upset” during a phone conversation.
He told jurors that Younis said: “I want out from him and I feel suffocated.”
The witness said he reluctantly agreed to meet Younis so they could talk.
The court also heard evidence about an alleged previous incident involving Uddin and the witness.
Defending Uddin, Martin Rutherford KC asked whether the defendant had been violent towards the witness again after an incident in which Uddin allegedly tried to strike him in the throat.
The witness replied: “No, not again.”
The trial has yet to hear evidence concerning the cause of Younis’s death.
The proceedings at Birmingham Crown Court are continuing.
