A retrial jury has failed to reach a verdict in a violent assault case against two brothers who left police officers bloodied and injured. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, both of Rochdale, have been accused of assaulting three police officers, one male and two females, during a 2024 altercation at Manchester Airport.
On Wednesday, the jury at Liverpool Crown Court failed to reach a majority verdict, once again, after nearly 20 hours of deliberation, the BBC reported. This was a retrial case regarding the defendants' alleged assault against Officer Mardsen, 26. Last year, defendant Amaaz was convicted of causing actual bodily harm to Officers Ward and Cook; however, the jury could not reach verdicts on whether the brothers attacked Mardsen during the altercation.
"While we are disappointed a verdict could not be reached today, we respect the outcome of the court process," a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said. The Crown Prosecution Service will have until May 29 to decide whether to seek a third trial.
The incident occurred on July 23, 2024, when police rushed in to arrest Amaaz for allegedly headbutting a Kuwaiti tourist at a Starbucks located in Terminal 2 at the airport. The defendants claimed the worker allegedly used a racial slur towards their mother, Shameem Akhtar, who had just landed from Pakistan, the Daily Mail reported.
The officers caught up with the defendants at the check out. Video footage presented to the jury shows Mardsen grabbing then-19-year-old Amaaz without explaining he was under arrest, which resulted in the brother overpowering Mardsen with a series of punches. Mardsen said his eyeglasses were knocked off, and he feared Amaad was trying to disarm him by grabbing his loaded gun out of the officer's holster. A melee ensued.
Mardsen testified that he could no longer see after losing his glasses, leaving him "terrified." Prosecutors said Amaaz threw ten punches, also striking officers Ward and Cook. Ward sustained a broken nose, and Cook was left with facial bruising. Cook managed to Taser Amaaz, a strike that knocked him to the ground.
Mardsen told the Court he feared for his life and considered drawing his pistol. The officer kicked Amaaz in the face while he was down, according to video, which initially sparked public outcry among anti-police activists. However, Mardsen testified that he did not know Amaaz had been Tasered because he could not see at the time, and rendered Amaaz a safety threat. The officer then turned his attention toward Amaad, kicking the defendant in the thigh while ordering him to the ground.
Both brothers claimed self-defense against Mardsen at trial.
On Wednesday, the jury at Liverpool Crown Court failed to reach a majority verdict, once again, after nearly 20 hours of deliberation, the BBC reported. This was a retrial case regarding the defendants' alleged assault against Officer Mardsen, 26. Last year, defendant Amaaz was convicted of causing actual bodily harm to Officers Ward and Cook; however, the jury could not reach verdicts on whether the brothers attacked Mardsen during the altercation.
"While we are disappointed a verdict could not be reached today, we respect the outcome of the court process," a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said. The Crown Prosecution Service will have until May 29 to decide whether to seek a third trial.
The incident occurred on July 23, 2024, when police rushed in to arrest Amaaz for allegedly headbutting a Kuwaiti tourist at a Starbucks located in Terminal 2 at the airport. The defendants claimed the worker allegedly used a racial slur towards their mother, Shameem Akhtar, who had just landed from Pakistan, the Daily Mail reported.
The officers caught up with the defendants at the check out. Video footage presented to the jury shows Mardsen grabbing then-19-year-old Amaaz without explaining he was under arrest, which resulted in the brother overpowering Mardsen with a series of punches. Mardsen said his eyeglasses were knocked off, and he feared Amaad was trying to disarm him by grabbing his loaded gun out of the officer's holster. A melee ensued.
Mardsen testified that he could no longer see after losing his glasses, leaving him "terrified." Prosecutors said Amaaz threw ten punches, also striking officers Ward and Cook. Ward sustained a broken nose, and Cook was left with facial bruising. Cook managed to Taser Amaaz, a strike that knocked him to the ground.
Mardsen told the Court he feared for his life and considered drawing his pistol. The officer kicked Amaaz in the face while he was down, according to video, which initially sparked public outcry among anti-police activists. However, Mardsen testified that he did not know Amaaz had been Tasered because he could not see at the time, and rendered Amaaz a safety threat. The officer then turned his attention toward Amaad, kicking the defendant in the thigh while ordering him to the ground.
Both brothers claimed self-defense against Mardsen at trial.
