Keighley man on trial charged with wounding man who lost both legs after Bradford 'attack' (From Keighley News)

Keighley man on trial charged with wounding man who lost both legs after Bradford 'attack'

2:00pm Thursday 31st January 2013 in News

A man who had both legs amputated after he was severely beaten and kicked outside his home told a jury he was knocked out after up to six men charged at him with baseball bats.

Keith Alder was giving evidence in the trial of 22-year-old Keighley man Ladislav Balaz, who denies wounding him with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and being in possession of a baseball bat on October 22, 2011.

The jury at Bradford Crown Court was told Balaz’s uncle, Bartolomej Makula, was jailed for 15 years in April last year after admitting the offences.

Prosecutor, Sophie Drake, said Mr Alder, 66, was subjected to “a severe assault”.

He suffered skull fractures, most of his bowel had to be removed and both his legs were amputated above the knee. It was feared at one time he would not survive.

Miss Drake said the Crown’s case was Balaz, of Samuel Street, attacked Mr Alder with a baseball bat.

She alleged that after his uncle was arrested, Balaz told his sister and mother he was party to the assault. The women contacted police.

A video interview, dating from January 11, 2012, when Mr Alder was still in Bradford Royal Infirmary, was played in court.

In it, Mr Alder said he attended a charity function at the Fat Pot Club in Great Horton Road, Bradford, and was walking home after 10pm when he saw five or six men coming towards him with baseball bats.

He was nearly back at his home in Sowden Street, Great Horton, when they charged at him.

He ran but was struck in the face and remembered nothing after that. Mr Alder said the men intended “to knock my block off”.

Balaz told the jury his mother had urged him to take the blame after his uncle was arrested for the crime. He said she “nagged “ him to say he did it because his uncle had children.

Balaz said he was born in Slovokia and came to the UK five years ago.

He stayed at home with his partner on the evening of October 22 and learned the next morning his uncle Bartolomej had been arrested.

Balaz denied telling his mother and sister he was involved in the assault. He also denied changing his training shoes at a charity shop and hiding his trousers in the cellar at his home.

There was laughter in court when Balaz, who is 4ft 9in tall, held up the jeans to show the jury they were far too big to be his. The trial continues.