Manchester Airport Assault Trial: Jury Views CCTV and Bodycam Evidence

In a gripping trial at Manchester Crown Court, jurors have been presented with CCTV and bodycam footage capturing a violent altercation at Manchester Airport on 23 July 2024. The footage allegedly shows brothers Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, assaulting police officers in the Terminal 2 car park pay station area following an incident at a Starbucks.

The prosecution alleges that the brothers, both from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, attacked officers responding to a disturbance. According to court proceedings, Amaaz resisted arrest at a payment machine, prompting his brother Amaad to intervene. The prosecution claims Amaaz threw 10 punches, including one that floored unarmed officer Pc Lydia Ward and targeted firearms officer Pc Zachary Marsden with six punches. Amaaz is also accused of kicking Pc Marsden, elbowing firearms officer Pc Ellie Cook twice, and punching Pc Marsden from behind before Pc Cook deployed her Taser. Additionally, Amaaz faces charges for an earlier assault on a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at Starbucks. Amaad is charged with assaulting Pc Marsden, causing actual bodily harm. Both brothers deny the allegations.

In court, Pc Marsden gave a vivid account of the chaotic encounter. He testified that he approached Amaaz, identifiable in a light blue tracksuit, intending to escort him from the crowd for arrest. “I placed my hands on his left arm, but was met with immediate resistance,” Pc Marsden said, noting that Amaaz appeared to clench his fists. As the situation escalated, Pc Marsden attempted to handcuff Amaaz but felt an “immense weight of pressure” from his right side. He described a terrifying moment when his Glock 17 semi-automatic pistol shifted across his body, fearing someone was attempting to seize it. “I was receiving blows from all directions,” he added, recalling how his glasses were knocked off.

Pc Marsden further testified that Amaad’s intervention intensified the attack, with blows raining down until he deployed his Taser. Moments later, he felt a strike to his head and an arm around his throat, initially believing a third attacker was involved. He later learned Pc Cook had tasered Amaaz, who was clinging to him. Addressing allegations of excessive force, Pc Marsden denied stamping on Amaaz’s head. “He ignored my commands to put his arms behind his back,” the officer explained. “Using the soft-laced part of my boot, I delivered a kick to the facial region to stun the subject and gain control.”

The trial has drawn attention to the challenges faced by police in high-pressure situations, with the defence set to cross-examine Pc Marsden today. The prosecution’s case hinges on the vivid footage and officer testimonies, while the brothers maintain their innocence, setting the stage for a contentious legal battle.

The case continues to unfold, with jurors tasked with weighing the evidence in this complex and high-stakes trial.