Jurors in the trial of two brothers accused of assaulting police at Manchester Airport have been shown CCTV footage of an earlier confrontation and told of prior convictions relating to the incident.
Liverpool Crown Court heard that Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, had previously been convicted of three offences arising from events on 23 July 2024: assaulting Abdulkareem Ismaeil by beating, assaulting PC Lydia Ward causing actual bodily harm, and assaulting PC Ellie Cook, an emergency worker.
The court was told the convictions were recorded at a previous trial at Liverpool Crown Court on 30 July last year.
Detective Sergeant Danielle Bullivant, of Greater Manchester Police Major Incident Team, gave evidence as the officer in charge of the case, guiding jurors through CCTV footage and images from the prosecution bundle.
Footage shown to the jury captured the arrival of Abdulkareem Ismaeil and his family at Terminal Two, followed shortly by the defendants mother, before showing the moment the two groups encountered each other inside a Starbucks café.
Jurors were shown footage of the confrontation, during which Amaaz was said to have headbutted and punched Mr Ismaeil. Still images presented alongside the footage described the sequence of events, including a headbutt and attempted punches before the defendants left the café.
Witness Cameron Cartledge, a duty manager at the Starbucks, told the court he saw Amaaz headbutt Mr Ismaeil after a brief verbal altercation.
He said Amaaz appeared to be the aggressor based on his body language and tone, and confirmed he did not see Mr Ismaeil use any violence. Cartledge said he called police immediately after witnessing the headbutt.
Under cross-examination, Cartledge said he had seen a separate video of the incident prior to giving his statement but maintained his account. He also rejected suggestions that Mr Ismaeil had shouted threats in English before the altercation.
A second witness, barista Justine Pakalne, also told the court she saw Amaaz headbutt Mr Ismaeil following an argument in the café.
She said she did not believe those involved were speaking English and confirmed she did not hear any threats such as “I will smash you” or “I will kill you” alleged by the defence.
Pakalne said she clearly recalled Amaaz telling the victim to “come outside and fight” following the initial confrontation.
Both witnesses said they did not see Mr Ismaeil act aggressively.
The prosecution maintains the defendants used unlawful violence, while the defence argues they were acting in self-defence.
The trial was adjourned and is due to resume on Wednesday.
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