CAIRO – A British court has heard charges against two British men who are accused of killing a much-loved and respected Muslim grandfather while he was on his way home from fajr prayer, after savagely beating him to death.

“There was an incident of blatant aggression by [Dale] Jones that demonstrated his racist attitude,” Andrew Robertson QC, prosecuting, said, the Yorkshire Post reported.

Speaking at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday, February 9, Robertson accused Dale Jones and Damien Hunt, both 30, of killing 81-year-old Mushin Ahmed. The attackers first accused Ahmed of being a “groomer” before attacking him.

Robertson said Jones had tried to attack an Asian taxi driver while shouting abuse at him moments before coming across Ahmed.

“A taxi driver came down Doncaster Road. The driver was Asian. Jones began shouting racial abuse,” he said.

The charge was filed against the couple after the shoe print left on Ahmed’s face matched that of Adidas trainers Jones had been seen wearing on CCTV that night.

Hunt’s DNA was found on Ahmed’s broken dentures, Robertson added.

Prosecution added that Jones was the ‘main protagonist’ in the attack after getting himself into a ‘raging fury’ following hours of drink and drug-taking that had begun the previous day.

Described by his family as “gentle and non-confrontational,” the grandfather was on his way to say his morning prayers on August 10.

He was found slumped on the ground with serious head injuries shortly before 6am.

Ahmed, who moved to Rotherham in the 1950s, was married to Margaret, 71. The couple has four children and 12 grandchildren.

The family of Ahmed was grateful to police and the community which showed support in their time of grief.

“My husband and the father of our four children was the most sincere, kind and gentle man,” a statement released by Ahmed’s family to South Yorkshire Police reads.

“He loved Yemen and England and Ireland, and was incredibly proud to be a Yorkshireman.

“We’d like to thank everyone within our local community and beyond, who have offered us overwhelming support throughout the most difficult time in our lives.”