Jury in Manchester Airport case sent out to consider verdicts
Pc Zachary Marsden, Pc Lydia Ward and Pc Ellie Cook approached Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, at a ticket machine after a report that a male fitting his description had headbutted a customer at Starbucks cafe in T2 arrivals on July 23 last year.
Amaaz allegedly resisted, and his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, is then said to have intervened as the prosecution said they inflicted a 'high level of violence' on the Greater Manchester Police officers.
The Crown say CCTV footage showed Amaaz threw 10 punches, which included one to the face of Pc Ward that knocked her to the floor, and that Amaad aimed six punches at firearms officer Pc Marsden.
Amaaz is also said to have kicked Pc Marsden and twice struck fellow firearms officer Pc Cook with his elbow.
He is said to have punched Pc Marsden from behind and then had hold of him before Pc Cook discharged her Taser device.
Mobile phone footage of a kick and stamp by Pc Marsden as Amaaz lay on the floor was shared on social media and went viral.
Amaaz and Amaad, both from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, told the court they acted in lawful self-defence, or in defence of the other.
Giving evidence at Liverpool Crown Court, Amaaz said he feared the 'lunatic' male officer would 'batter him to death' and Amaad said he believed he was under attack.
The defence said the officers used 'unlawful force' as they grabbed Amaaz from behind without announcing themselves.
Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden and Pc Ward, causing them actual bodily harm.
He is also accused of the assault of emergency worker Pc Cook, and the earlier assault by beating of a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at a Starbucks cafe in T2 arrivals – in which he also claimed he was acting in self-defence
Amaad is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden, causing actual bodily harm.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Foreign repression on UK soil rising ‘unchecked', MPs and peers warn
Foreign states are becoming bolder in their attempts to silence dissidents in the UK and the Government must take stronger action, parliamentarians have warned. In a report published on Wednesday, the Joint Committee on Human Rights said transnational repression had increased in recent years, with foreign states using online harassment, lawsuits and physical violence to intimidate people in the UK. MI5 investigations into threats from other states have increased 48% since 2022, the report said, while committee chairman Lord David Alton warned the rise was 'going unchecked'. He said: 'This risks undermining the UK's ability to protect the human rights of its citizens and those who have sought safety within its borders. 'We have seen prominent cases of Hong Kongers with bounties placed on their heads, Iran intimidating journalists – but evidence submitted to the inquiry suggest this may be the tip of the iceberg.' The warning comes amid rising concern about transnational repression, including reports that China has offered rewards for people turning in pro-democracy Hong Kong activists based in the UK. Last month, Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee warned that Iran had attempted to kidnap or murder at least 15 UK-based people since 2022, while Russia has also targeted dissidents including the attempt to kill Sergei and Yulia Skripal with Novichok in 2018. While the cross-party human rights committee said China, Russia and Iran were the 'most flagrant' perpetrators of transnational repression in the UK, it highlighted evidence suggesting a string of other countries including India, Rwanda, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain had sought to target people in Britain. MPs and peers said they had also received 'substantial' evidence of intimidation by the Eritrean government, including surveillance of anti-government activists and infiltration of community groups and churches in an effort to isolate opponents of the regime. The committee went on to criticise Interpol, saying the organisation had refused to acknowledge misuse of 'red notices' – international requests for an arrest – to harass dissidents or take any steps to address this. Almost half of the 6,550 public red notices currently in circulation have been issued at Russia's request. Lord Alton said: 'We want to see a two-pronged approach from the Government. 'More needs to be done to give support and protection to the individuals and communities most at risk of transnational repression. 'We also want to see transnational repression prioritised in diplomatic relations and leadership at an international level to tackle the misuse and exploitation of systems of justice to silence and intimidate.' As well as pressing Interpol for action on abuse of red notices, the committee urged the Government to provide more training on transnational repression for police officers in the UK and greater protection from vexatious lawsuits known as Slapps (strategic lawsuits against public participation). The committee also called for China to be placed in the highest tier of the foreign influence registration scheme that came into effect last month, saying its omission risked 'undermining the credibility and coherence' of the scheme given the extent of Chinese transnational repression. An Interpol spokesperson said: 'Every year, thousands of the world's most serious criminals are arrested thanks to Interpol's systems. 'Children are saved from sexual exploitation and terrorists, cyber criminals and traffickers are brought to justice. 'Interpol knows red notices are powerful tools for law enforcement co-operation, which is why we have robust processes for ensuring that all Interpol notices and diffusions comply with our rules. 'Our constitution forbids Interpol from undertaking activities of a political, military, religious or racial character and all our databases and activities must also comply with the universal declaration for human rights.' A Home Office spokesperson said: 'We take the threat of transnational repression extremely seriously. 'Any attempts by a foreign state to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm individuals on UK soil are considered a threat to our national security and sovereignty, and will not be tolerated. 'The committee's review echoes many of the same findings and recommendations from the Defending Democracy Taskforce report on TNR, published in May, and we are already taking action arising from those recommendations to further strengthen our response.'
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
Man fighting for life after 'medical episode' on busy Greater Manchester road
A man has been left in a critical condition after a 'medical episode' behind the wheel caused a serious crash in Handforth on Tuesday (July 29). Police and paramedics raced to the scene of the incident at around 2.15pm on Wilmslow Road, outside the Waggon and Horses pub. A large cordon was put in place across both sides of the road following the incident. Greater Manchester Police said its believed that the driver of a Honda CR-V has suffered a medical episode at the wheel, before then crashing into a Range Rover Evoque. Never miss a story with the MEN's daily Catch Up newsletter - get it in your inbox by signing up here A man, aged in his 70s, has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition, where he remains. A scene is in place with investigations ongoing. Pictures from the scene showed police tape stretching across the road at the junction with Stanley Road, with multiple police vehicles in attendance and Serious Collision investigators. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "At around 2.15pm today (Tuesday 29 July 2025), we were called to reports of road traffic collision on Wilmslow Road in Handforth, Stockport. It is believed that the driver of a Honda CR-V has suffered a medical episode at the wheel, before colliding with a Range Rover Evoque at low speed. Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE "A man in his 70s has been taken to hospital and remains there in critical condition. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing. "Our Serious Collision Investigation Unit are now appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision or who has dash-cam footage to contact us. "Anyone with information or footage should contact us on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident 1853 of 29/07/2025. Details can be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111." --- Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That's why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable, highlighting the best of what we do - bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don't miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@ or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
Nine men who abused girl should have sentences increased, Court of Appeal told
Nine men who were jailed for sexually abusing a teenage girl who a judge said was treated as a 'human sexual commodity' should have their sentences increased, the Court of Appeal has been told. Ashley Darbyshire, Cory Barrett, Jack Poulson, Brandon Harwood, Richard Haslam, Elliot Turner, James Fitzgerald, Ross Corley and Daniel Bainbridge-Flatters were jailed in April for between two and 17 years for dozens of offences against the same victim. Darbyshire first targeted the girl when she was aged 13, and she was then abused by him and the eight other defendants over two years, mainly in the Blackrod and Adlington areas of Bolton, Greater Manchester. The Solicitor General has referred all nine sentences to the Court of Appeal, telling a hearing in London on Tuesday that they are 'unduly lenient' and should be increased. Barristers for the men are resisting the bids to increase the sentences, while Poulson and Harwood are separately seeking to appeal against the length of their jail terms. Lord Justice Edis, Mr Justice Butcher and Judge Angela Morris said they will give their ruling at 11.30am on Wednesday. Benjamin Holt, appearing for the Solicitor General, told the Court of Appeal on Tuesday that the sentences 'did not match the gravity of the case' as the men 'took it in turns to abuse this victim'. He said: 'The broad submission is that when the learned judge came to sentencing in this case, each of these offenders had committed a number of offences against an incredibly vulnerable victim.' Mr Holt continued: 'When passing sentence on the offenders, the learned judge has failed to reflect the entirety of the offending that each of these individuals was convicted of.' He also said that a 'constant theme' of the abuse was the victim being plied with alcohol and drugs. The men were arrested following Operation Pavarotti, Greater Manchester Police's investigation into child sexual exploitation allegations in the area. Darbyshire first contacted the victim on social media in 2016, when she was aged 13 and he was 19. He went on to abuse her until she was 15, raping her twice and introducing her to the other defendants, four of whom also raped her. Much of the abuse took place in a house in Blackrod, which the sentencing judge described as a 'lawless den of iniquity'. Mr Holt said that the offending only came to an end when Bainbridge-Flatters, who gave the victim cocaine on her 15th birthday, stole a car belonging to the father of another of the men and crashed it while under the influence of alcohol, with the girl a passenger in the vehicle. The victim, who was injured in the crash, then disclosed that she had been repeatedly sexually abused. Ahead of his trial, Darbyshire admitted multiple offences against the victim and four other girls aged under 16, one of whom he also raped. Sentencing him at Liverpool Crown Court in April, Judge Simon Medland KC said Darbyshire had a 'crazed attitude to sex' and treated his victim as a 'human sexual commodity'. In her victim personal statement, the girl said: 'I'd rather be dead most days than deal with all this mental torture and memories. 'I shouldn't have had to grow up so young and spend the rest of my life 'healing' from what these monsters did to me, leaving me in my own prison I built for myself in my own mind for the rest of my life.' At the hearing on Tuesday, Damian Nolan, for Darbyshire, said that his client had a brain haemorrhage before he was due to stand trial. He said: 'We submit that the ultimate sentence imposed was within the ambit of discretion afforded to Judge Medland. 'We would urge the court to leave the sentence unaltered.' Ian McLoughlin KC, for Barrett, said that his client's sentence was 'perfectly within the remit of a proper judge exercising his discretion'. Rosalind Emsley-Smith, for Bainbridge-Flatters, said that while her client's jail term 'may be a generous sentence', it was not 'overly generous'. Many of the offenders watched proceedings via video links from various prisons. Darbyshire, 28, from Bolton, was jailed for 15 years after admitting 19 offences, including rape, sexual activity with a child and making indecent images. Barrett, 24, from Wigan, was jailed for 12 years after being convicted of five counts of rape and one of assault by penetration. Poulson, 32, from Bolton, was jailed for 17 years after being convicted of 11 offences, including two counts of rape. Harwood, 25, from Bolton, was jailed for 10 years after being convicted of rape, attempted rape and sexual activity with a child. Haslam, 36, from Bolton, was jailed for 16 years after being convicted of seven offences, including three counts of rape. Turner, 27, from Bolton, was jailed for two years after being convicted of two counts of sexual activity with a child. Fitzgerald, 37, from Bolton, was jailed for five-and-a-half years after being convicted of assault by penetration. Corley, 30, from Bolton, was jailed for two years and four months after admitting two counts of sexual activity with a child. Bainbridge-Flatters, 35, from Bolton, was jailed for seven years after being convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a child, and pleading guilty to supplying cocaine and aggravated vehicle taking.
