Two brothers accused of assaulting a police officer at Manchester Airport in 2024 will not face a third trial after prosecutors declined to proceed. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, were charged with assaulting PC Zachary Marsden during an incident in July 2024.
The case attracted widespread attention after a video appeared to show Marsden kicking one of the brothers while he was on the ground. Two separate juries at Liverpool Crown Court failed to reach verdicts, leading Judge Flewitt to record not guilty verdicts for the assault charge.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC said a third trial would only be pursued in “exceptional circumstances” and that while the case was serious, it could not be described as one of “extreme gravity”. The brothers had maintained they acted in lawful self-defence.
The incident began when one of the brothers allegedly headbutted and punched a man who had verbally abused their mother. When police arrived, Amaaz became aggressive and assaulted three officers, including punching PC Ward, breaking her nose. The confrontation ended with Amaaz being tasered and kicked by Marsden.
Before the retrial, Judge Flewitt referred comments by Nigel Farage to the Attorney General as potentially contempt of court, after Farage criticised the initial verdict. However, no proceedings were issued. The Independent Office for Police Conduct continues its investigation into the incident.
