A murder accused was desperate for money after plundering his father’s bank account to feed his gambling habit, a jury heard.

Reaben Kareem’s sister told him: “Shame on you” when she found out what he had done.

Kareem pledged to pay back £920 he had stolen from his father by the day he and co-accused Jwanru Osman robbed three Bradford University students, it is alleged.

Kareem, 20, of Walsall, West Midlands, and Jwanru Osman, 20, of Northolt, Middlesex, deny murdering Tony Ho on January 22.

The trial at Bradford Crown Court has heard that the 19-year-old chemistry and forensic science student was found with multiple stab wounds and his throat cut.

Kareem and Osman deny murder but admit conspiracy to rob.

Kareem pleads guilty to wounding Tony’s sister, Sally Ho, 22, and her boyfriend, Gavin Stolarczyk, 30, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Osman denies the charges.

Sally told the jury she was struck with a vodka bottle and tied to a chair at the house all three students shared in Grantham Road, Great Horton, Bradford.

Gavin said he was stabbed and bound with electrical cord.

Prosecutor Paul Greaney QC told the court today that Kareem excluded himself from online gambling service, bet365, in December 2008, telling the operator he had lost £2,000 in two months.

He tried to reinstate his account in February and September of last year but was refused.

On December 29, he started a new account in his father’s name and spent £920 of his money, the court was told.

Three days before Tony was killed, Kareem and his sister, communicated on MSN Messenger.

She told him their father had had money stolen from his account and the family was going to the bank.

Kareem, whose user name was Iwantmorethan, told her he took the money and asked her to say nothing.

“Shame on you,” she replied.

Kareem swore to return the money by January 25, then said he would deposit £1,000 in his father’s account by Friday, January 22.

Kareem's sister told the court her family came to the UK from Baghdad in 2004. She broke down in tears in the witness box when asked if Kareem had spoken to her about borrowing money from another brother.

Barristers for the Crown and defence agreed the rest of her evidence could be read to the jury.

The trial continues on Monday.