Mohammed Fahir Amaaz has been found guilty of brutally assaulting police officers at Manchester Airport.
Amaaz, 20, of Tarnside Close, Rochdale, was convicted of the following offences, which were committed at the airport on Tuesday, 23rd July 2024:
- Assault by beating of Abdulkareem Hamzah Abbas Ismaeil (unanimous verdict).
- Assault occasioning actual bodily harm of PC Lydia Ward (unanimous verdict).
- Assault by beating of PC Ellie Cook, a constable who was acting in exercise of functions as an emergency worker (majority verdict).
The verdicts came after jurors had been deliberating for ten hours.
The jury was unable to reach a verdict in relation to Amaaz's alleged assault of PC Zachary Marsden.
Amaaz's brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, was also accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm on PC Zachary Marsden, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict on that matter either.
The maximum sentence for the most serious of these offences, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, is 5 years' custody.
Whenever there are multiple offences committed on the same occasion, convention is that any sentences are imposed concurrently. That being the case the maximum possible sentence available to the court is 5 years' custody in relation to the assault occasioning actual bodily harm; 2 years' custody in relation to the assault on an emergency worker (to run concurrently); 26 weeks' custody in relation to the assault by beating of Mr Ismaeil (to run concurrently). This would give a maximum possible overall sentence of 5 years' custody.
Amaaz will not be sentenced today, as a pre-sentence report will be required beforehand. The sentence imposed will be determined by consideration of the most serious offence, which is the actual bodily harm of PC Ward. Trial judge HHJ Neil Flewitt will then factor in the other offences, adjusting the overall sentence to reflect the totality of Amaaz's offending.
When sentencing the judge will apply the relevant sentencing guideline for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, which can be viewed here. It is likely the judge will view the offence as one of greater culpability (prolonged and persistent) and medium harm (PC Ward's broken nose, unpleasant as it undoubtedly was, would probably not be considered a serious physical injury).
That would give a sentencing starting point of 18 months' custody. The judge would then take into account aggravating and mitigating factors, adjusting the starting point sentence accordingly. Finally the judge would consider matters in the round and adjust the sentence to reflect totality. Having been convicted at trial, Amaaz will not be entitled to any credit. Given my interpretation of events, I think any overall sentence in excess of about 2 years' is pretty unlikely.
Of course sentencing is a matter entirely for HHJ Flewitt, who may well read things differently.
The CPS has said it will consider whether or not a retrial is appropriate in relation to the alleged assaults on PC Marsden.
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