A prisoner serving time at HMP Berwyn for seriously injuring a baby is facing the potential surgical removal of a testicle after being brutally attacked by four fellow inmates in a premeditated assault. Qasim Afzal was set upon in his cell at the Wrexham-based prison, with his attackers recording the vicious beating on a mobile phone, as revealed in court proceedings.
Severe Injuries and Court Details
Caernarfon Crown Court heard that the assault in February 2024 was so severe that one of Afzal's testicles had effectively "died" and may need to be surgically removed. Judge Timothy Petts stated the attack was carried out in response to Afzal having attacked and injured a four-month-old baby, describing it as a planned punishment intended to serve as an example to others.
Defendants and Sentencing
The four inmates involved—Zayn Abu-Manahim, 30; Zaheer Hussain, 28; Farhar Khan, 29; and Russell Lloyd, 34—were all sentenced after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm without intent. They received an additional two and a half years behind bars, to run consecutively with their existing sentences, which will push back their earliest release dates and extend their time on licence upon release.
Prosecutor Oliver King told the court that the defendants entered Afzal's cell and launched a sustained attack of kicks and punches, leaving him with no escape. The assault lasted nearly a minute and involved a makeshift weapon, with Judge Petts noting that the victim had been warned about the attack and given an improvised weapon to defend himself, though it proved ineffective.
Filming and Culpability
Judge Petts emphasized that the filming of the incident by Abu-Manahim was equally culpable as the physical assault, as it was part of a plan to share the footage on WhatsApp. The judge described the injuries as "severe," highlighting the stamp to Afzal's right testicle as the most serious.
Defence Arguments and Delays
Defence lawyers highlighted lengthy delays in bringing the case to court and presented mitigating circumstances for the defendants. Gareth Morley, defending Abu-Manahim, argued his client played a different role by filming with no violence attributed to him, while Euros Jones noted Hussain had completed a programme addressing violent offending.
John Wyn Williams stated that Lloyd had used his seven years in custody to better himself and maintained contact with his three children. Buntry Bantra, acting for Khan, pointed out his client had no convictions for violence and claimed he was being bullied at HMP Berwyn, seeking a transfer.
Criminal Histories
The court heard extensive criminal backgrounds for the defendants: Abu-Manahim had 53 convictions for 85 offences, including battery and assaulting an emergency worker; Hussain had 16 convictions for 33 offences, including wounding with intent; Lloyd had 21 convictions for 39 offences, including robbery and threats to kill; and Khan had four convictions for 12 drugs-related offences.
This case underscores ongoing issues of violence and retribution within the prison system, with the brutal nature of the attack and its recording highlighting severe breaches of safety and order at HMP Berwyn.
