Brothers accused of assaulting police officer at Manchester Airport won’t face third trial
Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, denied the charge.
Muhammad Amaad arriving at court today (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)
Two brothers accused of assaulting a police officer at Manchester Airport will not face a third trial. The decision was made on May 29, as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it will not be ordering a further hearing for Muhammad Amaad, 26, and Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21.
It comes after two separate juries at Liverpool Crown Court could not reach verdicts on the allegation that Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, assaulted PC Zachary Marsden in July 2024, causing him actual bodily harm. Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, denied the charge and said they acted in lawful self-defence, or in defence of the other.
Last week, the second jury was discharged after they deliberated for nearly 20 hours following a five-week trial.
The jurors had been advised they could reach a majority verdict, but were discharged after failing to do so.
On Friday, Judge Neil Flewitt KC directed that verdicts of not guilty be recorded against the two defendants.
Amaaz appeared via videolink from prison and Amaad sat with his lawyers in court as prosecutor Paul Greaney KC outlined the Crown’s reasoning for not applying for a second retrial of the case.
He said the law was clear in that there would be a “presumption and expectation” that there are no third trials save for “exceptional circumstances”.
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, left, and Muhammad Amaad, right (Image: Getty)
Greaney said: “The Crown’s assessment is that while the count on the indictment is serious and the case has attracted significant public interest, it cannot be properly described as one of extreme gravity.”
He said the matter had been considered at the “highest level” of the CPS.
Amaad, who faced the single allegation, walked free from court.
Amaaz was remanded in custody last year after he was convicted at the first trial of the assault of PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook as well as of a Starbucks customer during the same alleged incident on July 23.
He will be sentenced on June 26.
A police watchdog probe into the use of force by Greater Manchester Police officers during a series of arrests at Manchester Airport in July 2024 is at an advanced stage, the IOPC said.
