Man says he faced death threat to steal luxury watch in Mayfair
A man accused of robbing a fashion designer of a £137,000 Richard Mille watch in Mayfair claims he was coerced into the crime under threat of death. The defendant denies physical involvement, while prosecutors allege he participated in the violent theft.
Why it matters
The case highlights the prevalence of high-value luxury watch robberies in affluent areas and the legal complexities of duress defenses in criminal trials.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Fashion designer Catalin Botezatu was targeted on 28 January, the court heard
A man accused of robbing a fashion designer of a diamond-encrusted watch worth £137,000 (€160,000) has told a court he was threatened with being set on fire if he did not take part in the crime.
Ali Eldahouzze, 22, and Abdel El Habchi, 30, are alleged to have been part of a plot to target Catalin Botezatu after he had dinner with his assistant and a friend in Mayfair, central London.
Botezatu had been smoking a cigar on the terrace of the restaurant Amazonico in Berkeley Square on 28 January and shortly before midnight his Richard Mille watch was cut from his wrist, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Eldahouzze and El Habchi each deny one count of robbery.
A third man - Younes Djoudi - has admitted the charge.
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