Man stabbed chef after row at Southampton restaurant, jury told

Jaypal Khaira, 33, is accused of stabbing chef Austin Whithorne in the inner thigh after an argument broke out over change at Jerk Pan in Commercial Road.

Opening the trial at Southampton Crown Court, prosecutor Andrew Houston said Khaira was arguing with the cashier when Mr Whithorne approached “trying to calm the defendant down”.

But after leaving the restaurant in an “agitated” state, Khaira was seen on CCTV entering the restaurant from a rear door that leads into the kitchen.

The prosecution claimed that he was trying to go through the kitchen to get back into the restaurant itself, but Mr Whithorne tried to stop him, restraining him and telling him to “calm down”.

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Mr Houston said: “In a very fast movement the defendant then picked up a knife from the side of the kitchen.”

He claimed that Khaira stabbed the chef once in the inner thigh, before threatening to “either shoot or stab him”.

Mr Whithorne was then seen on camera, limping out of the restaurant where he said he called the police outside.

Further CCTV played to the jury showed Khaira picking up another knife as he is led out of the kitchen by two men, but this was taken from him before he was “thrown” out.

Police arrived and found Khaira in a nearby Premier store speaking with the staff. 

Jerk Pan, Commercial Road, Southampton (Image: Google Maps)

Mr Whithorne went to hospital and the wound on his leg was dressed. 

Mr Houston said that the wound was "very close to major blood vessels" though added that there was "no evidence of significant injury deeper than the wound".

He said a knife was found discarded in the fridge at the Jerk Pan, whilst CCTV was found in some bins nearby. 

"We say this defendant wounded Mr Whithorne. He did that with an intent to do really serious harm to Mr Whithorne.

"Picking up a sharp kitchen knife and impaling it into the leg of Mr Whithorne."

Khaira, of The Polygon, Southampton denies wounding with intent.

In a video interview played to the court, Mr Whithorne told police: "I saw him arguing with the cashier. 

"I said Jay man, take it easy. There were three customers behind him. Two left."

When asked about his relationship with Khaira, he said: "I think it was alright. No dispute. That man came in, I see blood in his eyes man. 

"He said he was going to shoot me in the face. 'I will stab you in the face'. 

"I said calm down man, take it easy man".

He added that the knife was around six inches long and "very sharp".

The trial continues.