Judicial authorities have officially abandoned efforts to prosecute two brothers accused of a violent assault on a male police officer during a highly controversial incident at Manchester Airport in July 2024.

The decision not to pursue a third trial comes after two separate juries failed to reach a verdict regarding the specific charges of assaulting Police Constable Zachary Marsden.

The Decision to Drop the Charges

Brothers Muhammad Fahir Amaaz (21) and Muhammad Amaad (26) were facing charges of using a high level of violence against PC Marsden. Throughout the legal proceedings, both men vehemently denied the charges, maintaining that their actions were strictly in self-defense.

Following a second hung jury in recent weeks, the judge and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) concluded that proceeding with a third criminal trial was no longer viable or in the public interest, citing the considerable financial costs already incurred by the state.

Context: The July 2024 Altercation

The charges stemmed from a chaotic and violent scene at an airport car park ticket machine. Greater Manchester Police initially responded to reports of an assault involving a civilian. Muhammad Fahir Amaaz matched the suspect’s description, and a violent scuffle erupted when officers attempted to detain him.

It is crucial to note that while the charges regarding PC Marsden have been dropped, Muhammad Fahir Amaaz was found guilty in a previous trial over a year ago for other offenses committed during the same incident. He was convicted of assaulting the initial civilian victim, as well as assaulting two female police officers: PC Ellie Cook and PC Lydia Ward, the latter of whom suffered a broken nose during the altercation.

The Viral Video and Political Fallout

The Manchester Airport incident became a major national flashpoint due to viral mobile phone footage.

The widely circulated video captured the moment PC Zachary Marsden appeared to kick Muhammad Fahir Amaaz in the head area during the arrest. The footage sparked immediate, severe public backlash and swift condemnation of the police from various senior politicians and community leaders.

However, media commentators and law enforcement advocates—including GB News Home and Security Editor Mark White—have continually highlighted that the viral mobile phone footage began only at the point of the kick, completely omitting the preceding violence. Subsequent CCTV footage revealed that the officers were allegedly subjected to a severe physical attack by the brothers prior to the recording.

“Two-Tier Justice” Debate

The abandonment of the trial is already generating significant political reaction. Commentators on right-leaning networks are utilizing the decision to fuel ongoing debates regarding “two-tier justice.”

Critics argue that the initial political rush to condemn the police officers—driven by the racial dynamics of the viral video—created a hostile environment for law enforcement. Defenders of the police emphasize that arrests of violently resisting suspects are inherently physical, arguing that officers must be allowed to utilize necessary force without facing immediate political abandonment before all facts are established.

While the brothers will face no further legal jeopardy regarding PC Marsden, the incident remains a defining case study in the complex intersection of viral media, policing tactics, and political public relations.