Bourke St brawl murder accused Bol Mangok claims ‘self defence’

A man who allegedly raced from a nightclub to confront three assailants claims he acted in ‘self-defence’ when he repeatedly stabbed a man in the back, a court has heard.

Tributes on Bourke street for Kose Kose, who was allegedly stabbed to death. Picture: Supplied

An accused murderer who rushed from a nightclub to confront three assailants acted in “self defence” when he repeatedly stabbed a man in the back during a wild Bourke St brawl, a court has heard.

Kose Kose, 20, died from five stab wounds inflicted mere minutes after he and his two mates were captured in graphic footage bashing Daniel Abdelrahman to the ground and kicking him to the face, about 5.30am on October 30, 2022.

A Supreme Court trial heard an unknown man who witnessed the bashing ran from the scene to the nearby daHa bar on Queen St, where he spoke to nightclubber Bol Mangok, from Delahey, who was outside with his friends.

CCTV captured Mr Mangok, then aged 20, and his mates immediately rush from the bar to the scene, where Crown prosecutor Neill Hutton said it was alleged he stabbed all three assailants - Mr Kose, Timothy Leek and Jacob Kuol.

Kose Kose, 20, from Cranbourne, died from stab wounds sustained in the alleged attack. Picture: supplied

Less than a minute after the wild brawl began, both groups ran in separate directions.

But Mr Kose, from Cranbourne, could be seen on footage played to the court stumbling a few shops downhill, where he fell in front of a Priceline store from a spontaneous collapsed lung.

He later died in hospital suffering five stab wounds, including three to his back.

Mr Mangok this week faces a Supreme Court trial on one charge of murder and four charges of causing injury to Mr Kuol and Mr Leek.

His defence barrister Daniel Sala told the jury there was “no evidence” over who stabbed Mr Kuol or Mr Leek, that “it’s a guess, it’s speculation”.

Mr Sala said there was “no dispute” that his client deliberately stabbed the victim, which caused his death.

But he asked, “What was this young man’s intention?”

“Defence say it was simply to stop the aggression,” Mr Sala said.

“He said he was acting in self defence.”

The trial, before Justice Amanda Fox, continue