Two men accused of assaulting a police officer during a high-profile incident at Manchester Airport will not face a further retrial after prosecutors declined to pursue the case.
Muhammad Amaad, 26, and Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, had denied assaulting Greater Manchester Police constable Zachary Marsden during a disturbance at the Terminal 2 car park paystation area on July 23, 2024.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it would not seek a second retrial after two juries at Liverpool Crown Court failed to reach verdicts. Judge Neil Flewitt KC directed that not guilty verdicts be recorded against both defendants.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC told the court that there is a “presumption and expectation” against third trials except in exceptional circumstances. He said the case, while serious and subject to significant public interest, did not meet the threshold of “extreme gravity”.
A second jury had been discharged after deliberating for nearly 20 hours following a five-week trial, having been advised they could return majority verdicts.
The court heard the incident followed an earlier altercation at a Starbucks inside the airport, where Amaaz had been accused of assaulting a member of the public.
Police officers, including PC Marsden and colleagues PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook, attended the scene and attempted to detain Amaaz in the car park area.
The prosecution said Amaaz resisted arrest and that Amaad intervened, with both men allegedly using a high level of force against officers.
Amaaz had previously been convicted of assaulting two female officers and a member of the public during the same incident. PC Ward suffered a broken nose, while PC Cook sustained lesser injuries. Amaaz is due to be sentenced on June 26.
During the trial, both defendants maintained they acted in self-defence. Amaaz told the court he feared for his life during the incident, while Amaad said he attempted to de-escalate the situation.
Footage of the incident, widely shared on social media, showed a male police officer kicking Amaaz while he was on the ground, prompting protests. Subsequent CCTV footage presented in court showed punches being thrown at officers prior to that moment.
PC Marsden told the court he stamped his foot to secure his police radio and did not believe he made contact with Amaaz.
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct into the use of force by Greater Manchester Police officers remains ongoing. The watchdog said the inquiry is at an advanced stage following new evidence received in October 2025.