No second retrial for men accused of airport brawl

Two men accused of assaulting a police officer in a brawl at Manchester Airport will not face a second retrial.

The Crown Prosecution Service has said it will not be ordering a further hearing for Muhammad Amaad, 26, and Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, after two previous juries at Liverpool Crown Court failed to reach verdicts.

The pair had denied assaulting Greater Manchester PC Zachary Marsden at the car park pay station area of terminal two on 23 July 2024.

Amaaz had previously been convicted by another jury of assaulting two female officers, PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook, and a Starbucks customer during the same alleged incident. He will be sentenced on 26 June.

The CPS said earlier it would be offering no evidence on the charges and will not be ordering a retrial.

The decision comes after a second jury was discharged last week, after deliberating for nearly 20 hours following a five-week trial.

The jurors had been advised they could reach a majority verdict but were discharged after failing to do so.

The court had heard police approached the two brothers after an incident at a coffee shop earlier.

Footage shared on social media and shown to the jury later showed a widespread disturbance.

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