Bolton: Man had knife in shop shortly before death, inquest hears

Muhammedou Kinteh entered the Newbury Convenience Store on St James Street in Farnworth in May 2018.

After his erratic behaviour, two workers at the shop tried to restrain him and police were called.

Officers arrested the 45-year-old but soon found out he was in a state of cardiac arrest.

Mr Kinteh was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital where he died later that day.

An inquest into his death is taking place at Bolton Coroners Court.

As the death took place after he had been arrested by police a jury is required to determine the facts of the case.

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The inquest heard statements given by people who were in the store at the same time as Mr Kinteh.

The first was by Curtis Jones.

It said he went into the store room.

It added: “He had a knife in his right hand.

"He was gripping it that hard his hand was red.

"It was four to five inches long.

“At first I thought nothing of it until he started stabbing boxes.”

He said the two men working at the store asked him to call the police, which he did.

The man said Mr Kinteh then threw a bottle at him.

He said: “Just before he threw the bottle he looked me right in the eyes, I knew he was going to throw it at me.”

He said the two men retrained him and he later saw police take two knives, including the one Mr Kinteh had been holding, out of the store.

Harold Dennis said a woman had asked him to leave the store after the incident began.

He said of Mr Kinteh: “He had a vague look about him, zombie-like, it made me think he was on drink or drugs.”

The court heard previously from his wife Sheena Kinteh, who said he had come home at around 5am on the morning of his death, had gone to visit family and had said he was on the way home a short time before he entered the store.

The inquest, before coroner Peter Sigee, continues.