An armed police officer has denied abusing his position or losing control during a violent confrontation at Manchester Airport, telling a jury he acted lawfully while under attack.
PC Zachary Marsden continued giving evidence for a fourth day at Liverpool Crown Court, where he rejected multiple allegations put to him by the defence.
The trial relates to an incident at Terminal Two on July 23, 2024, when Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, from Rochdale, attended the airport to collect their mother.
Jurors have heard the confrontation followed an earlier incident at a Starbucks branch, where Mr Amaaz was previously convicted of assaulting a member of the public and two police officers.
The court has been told a further altercation took place at a pay station, where PC Marsden was allegedly assaulted.
Under cross-examination, the officer denied claims that his actions were unlawful, insisting he had been “being attacked” and was responding to a threat.
The defence suggested Mr Amaad had been attempting to de-escalate the situation, including shouting “easy” as officers approached.
PC Marsden said he did not recall hearing those words and maintained he considered the situation dangerous.
Jurors were shown footage of the incident, including images of the officer aiming a Taser and confronting Mr Amaad.
When it was suggested that Mr Amaad had his hands raised in a surrender position, the officer said he still viewed him as a threat.
“The previous flurry of blows I received to the face and head, this male needs to be handcuffed,” he told the court.
The defence alleged that PC Marsden had acted in a manner that was “completely unlawful” and “dangerously out of control”.
He rejected those claims, replying: “Quite the contrary, an officer in danger.”
During questioning, PC Marsden also denied causing injury to Mr Amaad’s neck.
The court heard an officer at the scene, PC Flanagan, was captured on footage shouting: “Get your f***** hands there. If you f****** move I will smash your f****** face in, do you understand?”
PC Marsden told the court it would be for that officer “to justify why he said such a thing”.
Ms Gardner, representing Mr Amaad, suggested PC Marsden had “zero self-control”.
“I would disagree,” the officer replied.
He also rejected claims that he had been dishonest, had a “selective memory”, or lacked integrity.
When it was put to him that he had abused his position as a firearms officer, PC Marsden again denied the allegation.
Mr Amaaz and Mr Amaad deny the charge of assaulting PC Marsden, occasioning actual bodily harm.