Latest news with #AmaazBrothers
The Independent
09-07-2025
- The Independent
Police officer denies he ‘lost control' in aftermath of alleged airport assault
A police officer has denied he 'lost control' in the aftermath of being allegedly assaulted by two brothers at Manchester Airport. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, are said to have struck out after police were called to a reported assault at the Starbucks cafe in Terminal 2 arrivals on July 23 last year, when Amaaz is said to have headbutted a customer. On Wednesday, jurors at Liverpool Crown Court were shown a photograph of injuries to the face of the defendants' mother, said to have been sustained as Pc Zachary Marsden attempted to arrest Amaaz at the T2 car park paystation area. CCTV footage played to the jury showed Mrs Akhtar knelt near to her son on the floor after a Taser discharge felled him. Cross-examining Pc Marsden, Imran Khan KC, defending Amaaz, said: 'Did you cause the injury as a result of your conduct on July 23?' The Greater Manchester Police firearms officer said: 'I believe it is unclear whether or not it was my actions that caused those injuries. I believe I was not the only person who made contact with Mrs Akhtar.' Mr Khan said: 'I am suggesting that it was you who caused that injury by hitting her with a Taser?' Pc Marsden said: 'I firmly believe that you can't wholly attribute my actions to those injuries.' The officer said he believed Amaad had struck his own mother during the disturbance. Mr Khan said: 'Did you push the Taser you were holding into Mrs Akhtar at the time she was tending to Mr Amaaz?' Pc Marsden said: 'I did, yes.' Mr Khan said: 'Did you think that was justified?' Pc Marsden said: 'In the circumstances, yes, I did. 'She grabbed my left leg. Using my left hand, I have taken hold of her grip to remove it. She clamped on to my left hand pulling me forward. 'I was being pulled over Mr Amaaz and at risk of falling on top of him and being vulnerable.' Mr Khan said: 'I am going to suggest to you that was unnecessary. This was a hard push by your Taser on Mrs Akhtar's face?' Pc Marsden said: 'I disagree.' Mr Khan said: 'She was concerned for Mr Amaaz. She was not a threat. She was not interfering with anything you were doing and this was conduct, I suggest, where you have lost control.' Pc Marsden said: 'I would deny that.' Mobile phone footage was also played to the jury of Pc Marsden later using Pava incapacitant spray on a bystander who he said was effectively 'shielding' another man who officers wanted to detain for obstructing their duties. Pc Marsden told the court he deployed the tactic because events were 'beyond verbal reasoning'. The officer was then seen to grab the man around the neck and pull him to the floor, Mr Khan said. Mr Khan said: 'How do you justify putting your hands around a man's neck?' Pc Marsden said: 'Immediately prior, I had been subjected to the most violent assault of my life. 'I was now terrified that we are on the tipping point of another volatile situation. They were complicit in watching us being violently assaulted. 'I used pre-emptive force. I was in pain, exhausted and wanted to try the best I could to effect an arrest.' Mr Khan said: 'Was he doing anything that required Pava spray in the face?' Pc Marsden said: 'My fear was that he would be combative and we would end up with another hostile fight that I didn't want to happen.' Cross-examining Pc Marsden, Chloe Gardner, defending Amaad, said: 'I suggest that you and your colleagues were the aggressors.' Pc Marsden said: 'I can only account for my actions. I deny what you allege.' He also denied her suggestions that he failed to exercise any self-control and did not act with integrity. Pc Marsden 'strongly disagreed' with another suggestion that he had not been honest with the jury. Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden and Pc Lydia Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of Pc Ellie Cook and the earlier Starbucks assault of Abdulkareem Ismaeil. Amaad is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden, causing actual bodily harm. Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny the allegations.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- The Independent
Pc in airport incident with brothers tells court conduct was ‘professional'
A police firearms officer allegedly assaulted by two brothers at Manchester Airport has told a jury his behaviour on the day of the incident was 'professional'. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, are said to have struck out after police were called to respond to a reported assault at the Starbucks cafe in Terminal 2 arrivals on July 23 last year, when Amaaz is said to have headbutted a customer. Pc Zachary Marsden was one of three officers who shortly after approached Amaaz in T2's car park paystation area with a view to arrest him, Liverpool Crown Court has heard. The Crown say Amaaz resisted and his brother then intervened as they subjected the three officers to a 'high level of violence'. Cross-examining Pc Marsden on Tuesday, Imran Khan KC, defending Amaaz, said: 'It is his case that last year on July 23 you made a series of mistakes, some or all which were not in accordance with your police training which ultimately resulted in your conduct falling below the professional standards required of a police officer. 'And you used unlawful force against him, leaving him to defend himself and his brother.' Mr Khan added: 'You went in, all three of you, and held on to Mr Amaaz which rendered your actions unlawful because the force used was unjustified, disproportionate and not necessary.' Jurors heard that Pc Marsden has served Greater Manchester Police for about five years following a spell as a special constable with Lancashire Constabulary. The officer had regular duties at the airport as an authorised firearms officers since April 2023. Mr Khan asked him: 'As far as you personally are concerned, how would you characterise your performance as a police officer in general?' Pc Marsden said: 'Professional.' Mr Khan said: 'In relation to the events we are dealing with, how would you assess your performance as a police officer that day?' Pc Marsden repeated: 'Professional.' Mr Khan said: 'Having looked at the CCTV, do you consider there were any aspects of your performance that fell below the standards required of a police officer that day?' 'No, said Pc Marsden. Pc Marsden said he had received a report of 'two Asian males fighting outside Starbucks' and on arrival was told by a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, that he had been headbutted by a male in a blue tracksuit who had made off towards the car park. Mr Khan said: 'You potentially had two suspects or two victims. 'It appears you were taking Mr Ismaeil's word for it?' Pc Marsden replied: 'It's unfortunate I was not able to talk to the male in blue as he attacked me before I could engage in any form of communication.' He said his plan was to escort the suspect from the crowd in the paystation area and to arrest him outside where he would have radio signal and a 'line of sight' of his colleagues. Mr Khan suggested that announcing his presence as a police officer as he entered the area would have been 'one of the better options', Pc Marsden said: 'I did not deem that to be a safe option. 'My honestly held belief was that it was not appropriate to explain our attendance in the hope that he would comply and leave with us. 'Based on my policing experience, someone who has been violent once is more likely to be violent again when challenged.' Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden and Pc Lydia Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of Pc Ellie Cook and the earlier assault of Mr Ismaeil. Amaad is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden, causing actual bodily harm. Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny the allegations. Mr Khan said to Pc Marsden: 'Is the position this, that throughout the incident the force you used was justified, proportionate and reasonable?' 'Yes,' said Pc Marsden. The witness said he was met with initial resistance from Amaaz so decided to put his hand on the back of the suspect's neck and push him downwards to knock him off balance. Mr Khan said: 'Had you considered that might be frightening to Mr Amaaz, what you were doing?' Pc Marsden said: 'No. My concerns were my safety and my colleagues' safety.' As the second defendant intervened the officer threw two punches, the court heard. Mr Khan said: 'You are the first person to throw any blows in this incident, aren't you?' Pc Marsden said: 'A pre-emptive strike, yes.'
BBC News
08-07-2025
- BBC News
Manchester Airport PC tells trial conduct was 'professional' in brawl
A police firearms officer allegedly assaulted by two brothers at Manchester Airport has told a jury his behaviour on the day of the incident was "professional".Mohammed Amaaz, 20, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, are said to have struck out after police were called to an incident at the Starbucks cafe in Terminal 2 arrivals in July last year, when Mr Amaaz is said to have headbutted a Zachary Marsden was one of three officers who approached Mr Amaaz shortly after in the car park pay station area to arrest him, Liverpool Crown Court said Mr Amaaz resisted and his brother then intervened as they subjected the three officers to a "high level of violence". Imran Khan KC, defending Mr Amaaz, said it was his case that PC Marsden "made a series of mistakes some or all which were not in accordance with your police training".While cross-examining PC Marsden, he said this "ultimately resulted in your conduct falling below the professional standards required of a police officer."And you used unlawful force against him, leaving him to defend himself and his brother."Mr Khan said: "You went in, all three of you, and held on to Mr Amaaz which rendered your actions unlawful because the force used was unjustified, disproportionate and not necessary."Jurors heard PC Marsden has served Greater Manchester Police for about five years following a spell as a special constable with Lancashire officer had regular duties at the airport as an authorised firearms officers since April Khan asked him: "As far as you personally are concerned, how would you characterise your performance as a police officer in general?"PC Marsden said: "Professional."Mr Khan said: "In relation to the events we are dealing with, how would you assess your performance as a police officer that day?"PC Marsden repeated: "Professional."Mr Khan said: "Having looked at the CCTV, do you consider there were any aspects of your performance that fell below the standards required of a police officer that day?""No, said PC Marsden. 'Attacked me' PC Marsden said he had received a report of "two Asian males fighting outside Starbucks" and on arrival was told by a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, that he had been headbutted by a male in a blue tracksuit who had made off towards the car Khan said: "You potentially had two suspects or two victims."It appears you were taking Mr Ismaeil's word for it?"PC Marsden said: "It's unfortunate I was not able to talk to the male in blue as he attacked me before I could engage in any form of communication."He said his plan was to escort the suspect from the crowd in the pay station area and to arrest him outside where he would have radio signal and a "line of sight" of his colleagues. Mr Khan suggested that announcing his presence as a police officer as he entered the area would have been "one of the better options", to which PC Marsden replied: "I did not deem that to be a safe option.""My honestly held belief was that it was not appropriate to explain our attendance in the hope that he would comply and leave with us," PC Marsden said."Based on my policing experience, someone who has been violent once is more likely to be violent again when challenged."Mr Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted PC Marsden and PC Lydia Ward, causing them actual bodily is also accused of the assault of PC Ellie Cook and the earlier assault of Mr Amaad is alleged to have assaulted PC Marsden, causing actual bodily men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny the trial continues. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
