PC charged after mum-of-three's death in Oldham police chase crash
An IOPC spokesperson said Mr Burrows had been pursuing what was believed to be a stolen Audi at about 10:00 GMT in the unmarked police car.During the chase, the police car collided with a Peugeot 108 being driven by Ms Smedley at the junction of Oldham Road and Otmoor Way.The mother-of-three died at the scene despite the treatment from paramedics and the arrival of an air ambulance. After her death, Mrs Smedley's family paid tribute, in a statement released by GMP, to "the most kind, gentle, beautiful soul inside and out".The IOPC said its investigation, which began following a referral from the force in December 2022, ended in October 2023.It said a file of evidence was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for consideration of any potential criminal offence, and the CPS authorised the charge in February this year.
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The case gained national attention after shocking footage of PC Marsden kicking a teenage suspect in the head as he lay prone on the ground was viewed millions of times The police officers had been attempting to arrest him for headbutting the Kuwaiti minutes earlier. Amaaz had accused him of racially abusing his mother on an incoming flight. However, jurors at Liverpool Crown Court could not reach verdicts on either Amaaz or Amaad for assault causing actual bodily harm against PC Marsden. Both brothers denied all the charges, arguing that they were acting in self-defence or the defence of one another. The CPS will now seek a retrial of the brothers - both from Rochdale - in relation to the allegations that they assaulted PC Marsden. And while Amaaz now faces a possible prison sentence, PC Marsden could also still face criminal charges. Although no longer suspended, he remains under investigation by the IOPC, which has been monitoring the trial. 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In court, PC Marsden said he had thrown a pre-emptive punch, fearing heavily-built Amaad was trying to grab his loaded Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol from its holster. Amaaz - who threw ten punches in the melee - hit and elbowed PCs Cook and Ward before tackling PC Marsden, who had managed to fire his 50,000 volt Taser at Amaad. In the flurry of violence PC Cook then managed to Taser Amaaz, who fell to the floor and was kicked by PC Marsden, whose glasses had been knocked off in the melee. Asked about the kick, PC Marsden said he was attempting to 'stun' Amaaz, not immediately realising in the confusion that he had been tasered. PC Marsden said he used the 'soft, laced' part of his boot - adding that he 'strongly disputed' that there was any element of anger or 'retaliation'. He also aimed a stamp next to Amaaz's head - telling the court he had been trying to 'clamp' the wire of his police radio, which was hanging loose. Throughout the altercation, bystanders simply filmed it on their mobile phones, PC Marsden said, describing the watching crowd as 'hostile'. Back-up officers then arrived at the scene shouting 'You f****** move, I'll smash your f****** face in' and handcuffed both brothers before they were hauled off for questioning. Neither made any comment when they were interviewed the following day. Prosecutors had urged jurors to 'trust their eyes and ears' over the multiple angles of footage and police officers' testimony they had seen and heard. All three officers acted in a 'professional' manner throughout, they argued, saying claims by the brothers' defence that the police trio had been 'out of control' was 'false'. Neither brother has been in trouble with the police before, and six members of the family - including older brother Abid - are current or former officers with Greater Manchester Police. A former assistant manager at KFC, Amaad himself twice applied unsuccessfully to join the force - including a 999 dispatch role just three months before the airport incident. Younger brother Amaaz, meanwhile, has since begun studying sport marketing and management at Manchester Metropolitan University. In court, their defence teams highlighted how the officers did not announce themselves or say why they were attempting to arrest Amaaz. Asked why he resisted arrest, Amaaz said he hadn't initially realised PC Marsden was a policeman - despite his uniform and cap marked 'police' - and was 'scared'. As jurors delivered their verdicts after deliberating for ten hours, the public gallery was packed with supporters of the brothers, who stood side by side in the glass-walled dock. Four uniformed police officers were stationed inside the courtroom but there was no reaction from their supporters. The 11-strong jury unanimously found Amaaz guilty of ABH against PC Ward and common assault against Mr Ismaeil. They convicted him of assault by beating against PC Cook by a majority of ten to one. However, they could not reach verdicts on allegations that either brother had assaulted PC Marsden causing actual bodily harm. Amaaz - who did not react as the jury delivered their verdicts - was remanded in custody ahead of a bail application on Thursday. Afterwards Aamer Anwar, solicitor for the brothers, said: 'As proceedings are still live it would be inappropriate to comment further.'
