After two successive juries failed to reach a verdict, prosecutors have decided not to pursue a third trial against brothers Muhammad Amaad and Mohammed Fahir Amaaz for the alleged assault on Manchester Airport police officer PC Zachary Marsden. the decision, announced in early May 2024, leaves the specific charge of assault on PC Marsden unresolved while Amaaz still faces sentencing for other convictions stemming from the same July incident.

Two Hung Juries Prompt CPS to Cite "Extreme Gravity" Threshold

Both the original trial and a subsequent retrial ended with juries unable to agree on a verdict for the charge of assaulting PC Zachary Marsden, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. the CPS argued that a third trial would not satisfy the legal standard of "extreme gravity" and would not serve the public interest, leading to formal not‑guity findings on that count.

Video Evidence Fuels Public Outcry and BLM Protests

CCTV footage released after the July 2024 incident showed PC Marsden kicking Amaaz while he lay on the ground, sparking protests under the Black Lives Matter banner and calls to defund the police. Later leaked video revealed earlier aggression by the brothers toward the officers, complicating the narrative and fueling debate over police conduct.

Amaaz’s Prior Convictions and Upcoming Sentencing

While the assault charge against PC Marsden was dropped, Amaaz was previously convicted of assaulting two female officers ,including breaking PC Lydia Ward’s nose.. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month for those confirmed convictions, as reported by the court documents.

Allegations of Racist Online Vitriol and Jury Impartiality

The defence raised concerns that racist commentary online may have influenced juror impartiality and portrayed PC Marsden as overly aggressive. Prosecutors, however, maintained that the officers acted lawfully in response to an unprovoked attack on a member of the public.

Unresolved Questions: Evidence Suppression and Cost Implications

The brothers’ legal team attempted to suppress certain evidence and highlight prior incidents involving the officers, but most of those motions were blocked. additionally, the court is still assessing the financial burden of the legal process on the defendants , a detail that remains unsettled.