Two men from Luton have been charged with murder following the death of Hendon FC midfielder Ezekiel Williams.
Samuell Hussain, 28, of no fixed abode, and Arman Uddin, 21, of Saxon Road, Luton, have been charged with the murder of Mr Williams, 26. The charges relate to an alleged incident in Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes, during the early hours of Sunday, November 1.
Mr Williams was taken to hospital after the alleged assault but later died from his injuries. A postmortem examination found he had died of a head injury, although police have said the cause of death is preliminary and may be subject to further investigation.
Hussain and Uddin are due to appear at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court today, Friday, November 6.
A third man, aged 30, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. He has been released on conditional court bail while investigations continue.
Mr Williams played in midfield for Hendon FC, having joined the north-west London side in September. The club described him as a “hard-working and selfless” player and postponed its London Senior Cup tie as a mark of respect.
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with Ezekiel’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. As criminal proceedings are now active, we would ask people not to speculate about the circumstances of this case, either online or elsewhere. To help preserve the integrity of the investigation and ensure a fair trial, please be mindful of what you post, share or comment on social media.”
The case has moved quickly since the incident in the early hours of Sunday, November 1. Mr Williams died the following day, three men from Luton were arrested, and a postmortem examination on Thursday, November 5, established a head injury as the cause of death. The two murder charges and today’s court appearance follow within five days of the incident.
Police are still seeking witnesses to the incident. Officers want to hear from anyone who was in the area of Midsummer Boulevard and The Hub between 1am and 2am on Sunday, and are particularly interested in people who witnessed an altercation or captured mobile phone footage, dashcam footage or CCTV recordings. Information can be provided through the Thames Valley Police website or by calling 101, quoting reference 43260570882. Anonymous reports can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or through its website.
Murder is an indictable-only offence in England and Wales, which means the case will be sent to the Crown Court after the first appearance at the magistrates’ court. Nothing said about the defendants should be taken as a finding of guilt: both men are charged, and the allegations against them have yet to be tested in court.
Read our earlier report on the postmortem finding in the Ezekiel Williams case, and our report on three people injured in a stabbing at Harrow on the Hill station.
