Brothers will not face third Manchester Airport assault trial

Two brothers accused of assaulting a police officer at Manchester Airport during a fracas which went viral on social media will not face a third trial after prosecutors offered no evidence.

The decision was made after two separate juries at Liverpool Crown Court could not reach verdicts on allegations that Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, assaulted Pc Zachary Marsden in July 2024, causing him actual bodily harm.

Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, denied the charge and said they acted in lawful self-defence, or in defence of the other.

Last week, the second jury was discharged after they deliberated for nearly 20 hours following a five-week trial.

On Friday, Judge Neil Flewitt KC directed that verdicts of not guilty be recorded against the two defendants.

Amaaz appeared via videolink from prison and Amaad sat with his lawyers in court as prosecutor Paul Greaney KC outlined the Crown’s reasoning for not applying for a second retrial of the case.

He said the law was clear in that there would be a “presumption and expectation” that there are no third trials save for “exceptional circumstances”.

Mr Greaney said: “The Crown’s assessment is that while the count on the indictment is serious and the case has attracted significant public interest, it cannot be properly described as one of extreme gravity.”

He said the matter had been considered at the “highest level” of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Amaaz was remanded in custody last year after he was convicted at the first trial of the assault of Pc Lydia Ward and Pc Ellie Cook during the same incident on July 23.

He will be sentenced on June 26.

Published: 29/05/2026 by Radio NewsHub