Latest news with #ZacharyMarsden
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
I didn't know police officers I was punching were women, student tells Manchester Airport brawl trial
A man has told a jury he did not know that two police officers he hit to the floor within seconds at Manchester Airport were women. A jury has been shown CCTV of Mohammed Fahir Amaaz punching unarmed officer Lydia Ward in the face, breaking her nose and leaving her covered in blood. The trial at Liverpool crown court has also been shown CCTV of Amaaz, 20, being kicked in the head and stamped on by armed officer Zachary Marsden in the brawl at Terminal Two in Manchester airport last July. Amaaz told the court yesterday that the 12 blows he rained on three separate police officers in the confrontation were 'defensive and not offensive' and were only delivered to protect himself. He was cross examined by Paul Greaney, KC, for the prosecution who played him the CCTV footage from the airport terminal, which went viral on the internet. Mr Greaney said: 'Before you struck a single blow, you knew these were police officers.' Amaaz replied: 'Police officers who were attacking me and my brother again and again, trying to kill us. This lunatic booted me in the head and stamped on me. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz is seen arriving at Liverpool Crown Court at the start of his trial 'If that was not enough he elbowed my mother in the face with a Taser and if that was not enough , he punched my brother in the back of the head, twice. This man was attempting to kill us.' 'I was lying on the floor and I was vulnerable.' Mr Greaney said the kick and the stamp came after Amaaz had struck 12 blows and could not be used to ' justify ' the violence he used. Mr Greaney said: 'All the violence was completely offensive, not defensive, and unlawful. You were completely out of control.' Amaaz replied: 'I was scared s***less. These officers were attacking us again and again. They would not stop.' Mr Greaney told Amaaz that it was ' glaringly obvious ' that PC Ward was a woman when he hit her in the face. The CCTV showed Amaaz looking straight in her face and she had long red hair and was not wearing a cap. Amaaz replied: 'Not at that moment, no. I had seen my brother being punched in the face. I felt a strike to my throat and it was instinct to re act at the same time. It all happened so quick, it was a matter of seconds.' Mr Greaney said: 'You punched her in the face.' Amaaz replied: 'I did not know where the punch was going. It was a officer had punched me in the throat. I was trying the defend myself.' A trial at Liverpool Crown Court has been shown CCTV footage of Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, swinging a punch at Manchester Airport - with PC Lydia Ward hit in the nose He said that Ward and her colleagues PC Ellie Cook and PC Marsden were 'part of the group' who were trying to kill him. Amaaz said: 'She was part of that group. I believe PC Marsden was trying to kill me.' Mr Greaney said: 'You have punched a female police officer in the face. You have broken her nose. There was nothing defensive about punching a woman. You were wholly out of control.' Amaaz replied: 'At this point I was scared. These officers were attacking us for no reason. They had not spoken to us and they had not spoken to each other.' He said that he did not realise it was a police officer who first grabbed hold of him at the ticket machine inside the pay station. He said: 'They could have simply said 'you are detained' or 'you are under arrest' I have never been in that type of situation. 'I was forced into that situation. I was protecting me and my brother when this officer punched me in the face several times.' Mr Greaney said: 'You knew he was a police officer almost from the start and you knew why they were there.' Amaaz said: 'They did not give me a chance to think about anything. If they wanted to detain me, they could have told me and I would have let them do what they had to do. They did not give me a second to think about anything or to say anything.' The court has been told that the brawl was sparked by an altercation between the brothers and a plane passenger called Abdulkareem Ismaeil over an alleged insult to the brothers' mother. Amaaz accepted that Mr Ismaeil had 'not laid a finger on him ' but insisted that he was threatening him and saying, 'I will f***ing kill you.' He denied that he had acted 'out of anger and revenge' when he head butted Mr Ismaeil in front of his wife and two children in the Starbucks at Terminal Two. Amaaz said he had wanted to get Mr Ismaeil to apologise to his mother, who claimed he had called her 'a P*** bitch' and had pushed his luggage trolley into her legs. He said: 'I did not want to escalate it. I put it to him what my Mum had told me and said to him if it was true could he please apologise.' 'He said 'who are you, I will smash you. I will f***ing kill you.' The CCTV shows that I am stood on the spot and he stepped toward me. I was upset about about what had been done to my mother.' Amaaz said: 'It was instinctive. He was closing me down and it was in my mind to get this man away.' Mr Greaney said the CCTV showed Amaaz, who is left handed, swing a left had punch at Mr Ismaeil out of ' anger and revenge.' He said said: 'You delivered a forceful head butt to the face of Mr Ismaeil. As a matter of fact that man you head butted, that person was no threat to you and you didn't believe for a moment he was a threat to you and you were acting out of revenge and that's the truth.' Amaaz said: 'I swung a punch. I do not know if it connected. It was my intention to get this man away from me. He was shouting threats at me and threatening to kill me and smash me. He got so close I could feel his spit on my face. 'I thought that in a second, he was going to attack me. I was shocked. I was just protecting myself.' Amaaz denies one charge of assault by beating, two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and one charge of assault by beating of a police officer acting as an emergency worker. His elder brother Muhammed Amaad, 26, is accused of one charge of assault causing actual bodily harm on PC Marsden. The brothers from Rochdale, Greater Manchester claim they were acting in self defence.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Telegraph
Manchester Airport suspect: I thought police would batter me to death
A man who attacked police at Manchester Airport feared he would be 'battered' to death by an officer, a court heard. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, is accused of assaulting three Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers as they tried to arrest him on the evening of July 23 last year. Pc Zachary Marsden and Pc Ellie Cook, armed officers, attended the Terminal 2 car park pay station area with Pc Lydia Wardafter, an unarmed officer, after reports that a man fitting Mr Amaaz's description had headbutted a member of the public. Giving evidence at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday, Mr Amaaz said he had acted in self-defence and in defence of his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, when he was grabbed at the ticket machine with no explanation. He said a police officer, Pc Marsden, took hold of his arm, adding: 'All of a sudden I remember him grabbing the back of my neck and trying to force me to the ground. 'I was frightened. Honestly I believed if he took me to the ground I thought he would have battered me to the point where I was dead and he would have killed me.' Imran Khan KC, defending, asked: 'Why did you think that Fahir?' Mr Amaaz said: 'Because it's not like it has not happened before in the past, that some police officers have abused their powers and as a result of that people have died.' Mr Amaaz said he stayed on his feet and looked up to see his brother being punched in the face 'repeatedly'. He told the court: 'Honestly I was shocked. I thought: 'What the hell are these lot doing? Why are they punching him in the face?' We have police officers in our family.' Mr Khan said: 'Did you think there was a legitimate reason for them grabbing you in the way they did?' Mr Amaaz said: 'If there was I would have expected them to give me that reason and communicated to us in some way.' Mr Amaaz went on to strike the two female officers, who were both knocked to the ground, with Pc Ward suffering a broken nose. He said he kicked out at one of the officers to 'get him away' from Mr Amaaz and then punched Pc Cook for the same reason. Mr Amaaz said then he saw Pc Marsden pointing what he thought was a gun – in fact a Taser – at his brother. He said: 'Honestly I believe this guy is about to shoot and kill my brother. I think I shouted: 'No!' I didn't want him to pull that trigger.' He ran towards Pc Marsden and struck him from behind before Pc Cook fired her Taser at him, the court heard. Mr Amaaz said: 'I believed I had saved my brother's life then all of a sudden if feels like all the energy has just gone out of me. It felt like the soul being sucked out of my body and everything went stiff.' He said he thought he was 'dying' as he held on to Pc Marsden as they both fell backwards. Mr Amaaz told the jury that he had no hostility towards the police and that another brother, Abid, was a serving GMP officer. He added that his uncle was a GMP officer for 30 years before his retirement and that six cousins were also employed by GMP. Mr Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden and Pc Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of emergency worker Pc Cook, and the earlier assault of a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at a Starbucks cafe in T2 arrivals. Mr Amaad is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden, causing actual bodily harm. Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny the allegations.
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Student feared he would be ‘battered' to death by police officer, court told
A student has told a jury he feared he would be 'battered' to death on the ground by a police officer at Manchester Airport. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of assaulting three Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers as they attempted to arrest him on the evening of July 23 last year. Pc Zachary Marsden and his colleagues, fellow armed officer Pc Ellie Cook and unarmed Pc Lydia Ward, entered the Terminal 2 car park paystation area after reports that a male fitting Amaaz's description had headbutted a member of the public. Giving evidence on Thursday, Amaaz said he acted in self-defence and in defence of his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, after he was grabbed at the ticket machine with no explanation. He said he turned and recognised a police officer, Pc Marsden, had hold of his left arm. Imran Khan KC, defending, said: 'By this point what, if anything, is going through your mind?' Amaaz said: 'At first he grabs me and then he just forces me against the ticket machine. All of a sudden I remember him grabbing the back of my neck and trying to force me to the ground. 'Honestly I was scared at that point. I didn't know what he was trying to do.' Mr Khan said: 'How did you feel at this point?' Amaaz said: 'I was frightened. I just didn't want to go down to the ground. Honestly I believed if he took me to the ground I thought he would have battered me to the point where I was dead and he would have killed me.' Mr Khan said: 'Why did you think that Fahir?' Amaaz said: 'Because it's not like it has not happened before in the past, that some police officers have abused their powers and as a result of that people have died.' Mr Khan said: 'Is that why you resisted?' 'Yes,' said the defendant. Amaaz said he stayed on his feet and looked up to see his brother, Amaad, being punched in the face 'repeatedly' He told the court: 'Honestly I was shocked. I thought 'what the hell are these lot doing? why are they punching him in the face'. 'We have police officers in our family.' Mr Khan said: 'Did you think there was a legitimate reason for them grabbing you in the way they did?' Amaaz said: 'If there was I would have expected them to give me that reason and communicated to us in some way.' He went on to strike the two female officers, who were both knocked to the ground, with Pc Ward suffering a broken nose. He said he kicked out at one of the officers to 'get him away' from Amaad and then punched Pc Cook for the same reason. He hit Pc Ward after he felt a punch go towards his throat, he said. Amaaz said: 'Honestly I feel a punch and instinctively I feel I needed to protect myself so I just turn and strike at the same time. 'I just threw a punch. I didn't know where it was going.' Mr Khan said: 'What did you intend to do?' Amaaz said: 'Just to stop the attack. Protect myself.' He said he then saw an officer (Pc Cook) 'literally running towards me with their hands up'. He said: 'I thought that officer was about to attack me. I felt I had got no choice but to protect myself. I struck out. I don't recall how many times.' Amaaz said then he saw Pc Marsden pointing what he thought was a gun – which was in fact a Taser – at his brother. He said: 'Honestly I believe this guy is about to shoot and kill my brother. I think I shouted 'no'. I didn't want him to pull that trigger.' He ran towards Pc Marsden and struck him from behind before Pc Cook fired her Taser at him, the court heard. Amaaz said: 'I believed I had saved my brother's life then all of a sudden if feels like all the energy has just gone out of me. It felt like the soul being sucked out of my body and everything went stiff.' He said he thought he was 'dying' as he held on to Pc Marsden as they both fell backwards. Footage of what followed as Amaaz lay on the floor later emerged on social media and went viral as Pc Marsden kicked him to the head and was seen to stamp near him. On the ground he heard 'shouting and screaming', he said. Amaaz went on: 'I remember hearing shouting from one side and lifting my head to see who is shouting. 'I remember a boot coming straight for my face. As soon as it hit me it knocked me out for a few seconds and I think the stamp woke me up. Mr Khan said: 'You couldn't see the stamp at the time?' 'No,' said the defendant. Mr Khan said: 'Did you fell something at your head?' Amaaz said: 'Yes. It was sort of a shove downwards to the floor.' Amaaz told the jury that he had no hostility towards the police and that another brother, Abid, was a serving GMP officer. He added that his uncle was a GMP officer for 30 years before his retirement and that six cousins were also employed by GMP. Mr Khan asked Amaaz: 'What was the reason you acted in the way you did on July 23?' Amaaz said: 'Throughout the whole incident, me and my brother was under attack. I was trying to protect myself and him. 'I just felt I was fighting for my life.' Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden and Pc Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of emergency worker Pc Cook, and the earlier assault of a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at a Starbucks cafe in T2 arrivals. Amaad is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden, causing actual bodily harm. Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny the allegations.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Armed police officer filmed kicking suspect in the head in Manchester Airport brawl denies aiming another stamp at him
An armed police officer who was filmed kicking a suspect in the head during an airport brawl has denied aiming a further stamp on him. Zachary Marsden told a court he was trying to clamp his radio wire with his foot when near the head of suspect Mohammed Fahir Amaaz as he lay on the floor. A jury at Liverpool Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of the kick and stamp to the head of Amaaz at Terminal Two of Manchester airport in July last year. Firearms officer Mr Marsden has admitted kicking suspect Amaaz, 20, in the head during the fracas at the pay station in Terminal Two at Manchester airport last July. The attempted arrest sparked a brawl involving Amaaz, his brother Muhammed Amaad, 26, and three officers which was filmed and went viral on the internet. Amaaz denies one charge of assault by beating, two charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and one charge of assault by beating of a police officer acting as an emergency worker. Amaad is accused of one charge of assault causing actual bodily harm on PC Marsden. The brothers, from Rochdale in Greater Manchester, say they were acting in self defence. PC Marsden has spent his third day in the witness box where he was further cross-examined by Imran Khan KC, who is representing Amaaz. He denied Mr Khan's suggestion that he had stamped on Amaaz's head because 'the red mist had fallen and you had lost control'. Mr Marsden said he was trying to hook the wire of his radio, which was dangling from his body, around his foot to create ' a clamp ' because he feared Amaaz could grab the device and pull him to the floor. He said: 'I was not aiming for his head - I was aiming for the wire. 'I am not justifying a stamp to the head - it was never my intention to stamp on anyone's head and I do not believe that I made contact with his head.' Mr Marsden also denied suggestions he had pushed his Taser into the face of Amaaz's mother Shameem Akhtar as she knelt beside her son on the floor . Mr Khan told the witness: 'She was bending over with her hand on her son's head - she was trying to protect her son's head.' Marsden responded by saying: 'I still deny trying to stamp on his head. 'I was trying to clamp the wire. My vision was impaired and I was disorientated, having been punched ten to 15 times.' The officer was shown a photograph of Mrs Akhtar which showed a facial injury, as Mr Khan asked him: 'Did you cause that injury? ' Mr Marsden replied: 'I believe it is unclear whether it was or was not my actions which caused this injury. 'I believe I was not the only person to make contact with Mrs Akhtar.' Mr Khan said that Mr Marsden had hit Mrs Akhtar with his Taser. The police officer told him in response: 'I acknowledge what you are suggesting and I am disputing it. 'I firmly believe you can wholly say it was my actions. I pushed her twice with my right hand. I believe it was justified and proportionate in the circumstances. 'She was grabbing my leg and I was being pulled forwards. Using my left hand, I took hold of her grip to remove it.' Mr Khan asked: 'What was she preventing you doing which required you take that action?' Mr Marsden said he was being prevented from placing handcuffs on Amaaz, adding: 'I was being pulled over and risked being pulled on top of him. I was vulnerable.' Mr Khan said the CCTV showed there was a 'hard push' of Mr Marsden's Taser into the face of Mrs Akhtar and suggested he could have used his hand. Mr Marsden told the court: 'It was a fast-paced incident. 'There was no time to use my hand. I needed to act quickly to control him.' The officer was also questioned over using a pepper spray on an onlooker called Mr Ali Rahman who was with two relatives filming the incident on their phones. The jury was shown mobile phone footage of officers trying to arrest a man named as Saaed Rahman on suspicion of obstructing the police. Another man called Ihsman Rahman protested: 'We have just come off the plane - we have not done anything.' Amaaz appeared to still be grappling with one officer before he was hit with the Taser shot Having 'deemed' that his assailant was 'a threat', PC Marsden said he struck Amaad (pictured right) in the face with his first in an attempt to push him away Mr Marsden said that other officers were pointing Tasers at the three men and he decided to use his pepper spray as 'a less lethal option ' to help secure the arrest. He agreed that he had said after the incident that there were '10 to 15 of them against the three of us'. He added: 'The crowd was hostile. No one in that room was trying to help us. They watched us being violently beaten again and again.' Cross-examining Pc Marsden, Chloe Gardner, defending Amaad, said: 'I suggest that you and your colleagues were the aggressors.' Pc Marsden said: 'I can only account for my actions. I deny what you allege." Amaaz is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden and Pc Lydia Ward, causing them actual bodily harm. He is also accused of the assault of Pc Ellie Cook and the earlier Starbucks assault of Abdulkareem Ismaeil, while Amaad is alleged to have assaulted Pc Marsden, causing actual bodily harm. Both deny the allegations. The trial continues.
The Sun
08-07-2025
- The Sun
Officer who kicked man in the head during Manchester airport brawl says he acted ‘professionally'
THE police officer filmed kicking a man in the head during an airport brawl has told a court he acted 'professionally'. Firearms cop Zachary Marsden has admitted kicking Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, while he was on the ground, last July. 3 3 PC Marsden told a jury he was trying to arrest Amaaz for headbutting another man in a cafe at Manchester Airport. Marsden said he was aware of the "crowd dynamic' in the pay station area and wanted to remove Amaaz from the area in case of an adverse crowd reaction. He said: 'Based on my experience as a police off icer, affecting an arrest in a crowd can create its own crowd dynamic risk. "It would be better to remove him from the crowd. 'I did not want to operate within the crowd which could give them the opportunity to escalate the situation." The brawl, which also involved Amaaz's brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, and two other officers was filmed and went viral on the internet. Both brothers, from Rochdale, deny assault charges and claim they acted in self defence. Their lawyer Imran Khan KC told Liverpool crown court Amaaz saw PC Marsden aim his Taser at his brother and may have believed it was a gun. The trial continues. Moment man 'headbutted dad at Manchester airport before brawling with cops' 3
