Asylum Seekers on Trial for Brighton Beach Rape

On April 1st, three asylum seekers from Egypt and Iran face charges for allegedly gang-raping

a 33-year-old woman on Brighton Beach last.

October 4th, Ibrahim al-Shafi, 25, and Abdullah Amadi, 26, are accused of the repeated assaults

behind a beach hut while their housemate, Karen, out then asserted, 20 allegedly filmed

it and joined in.

Court videos show them prepping for a night out at their home office hotel before heading

into town.

The men had all crossed the English Channel in small boats, al-Shafi and Amadi in June

last year, Al-Dhanassur, a few months later, and were housed.

Together in acess a hotel for asylum claimants.

After the alleged attack around 5am, they caught a bus back and fired up a barbecue in

the hotel grounds, with one smoking as they cooked meat.

All caught on another video played to the jury.

The victim called her attackers evil, saying they've wrecked her life, and police confirmed

the assault on the lower Esplanade.

Al-Dhanassur claims through an interpreter that he tried pulling the others off her, filmed

just for police evidence, and denies spitting on her.

Meanwhile, al-Shafi reportedly groped another woman at a nightclub earlier, bragging about

wanting a British bride for citizenship.

Prosecutors revealed Amadi ditched the hotel the next day in an unapproved move, marked

as of sconding until cops nabbed him a week later in crew.

Using a forwarding address, he'd left.

The trio denies all rape counts, all-Shafi in Amadi on two each, all den assert on four-plus

sharing the videos.

This heavy trial at Loose Crown Court rolls on, shedding light on tensions around asylum

housing and beach safety in the early hours.