Birmingham Riots: shocking footage of deaths shown to jury

Birmingham Riots: shocking footage of deaths shown to jury

The murder trial of eight men involved in the Birmingham riots last summer began yesterday.

During the trial footage showing the moment when three men were knocked down by a car was played to members of the jury.

Harron Jahan (21), and brothers Shazad Ali (30) and Abdul Musavir (31) were run over and killed in Dudley Road, Winson Green.

The victims had been trying to protect both their shops and homes from looters. Once they had arrived in hospital they were pronounced dead.

The eight men accused of their murders denied the charges.

While the CCTV footage from the 10 August 2011 was played family members sobbed as they watched the incident unfold.

Judge, Mr Justice Flaux was forced to clear the Birmingham court after a heated argument began in the public gallery.

Prosecutor Tim Spencer QC told the jury: “They were killed in shocking circumstances. It would be very surprising if you did not find the circumstances of their deaths shocking”.

He told the crown court that the defendants were in three cars – a Ford Fiesta, a Mazda, and an Audi.

CCTV footage shown the Audi swerving as it travelled down the road, while the other two vehicles held back.

However moments later, an arm is extended from the driver in the Mazda. Spencer asked the jurors: “Did you see the arm? It is a signal A signal to those in the Fiesta, particularly the driver, to go”.

The footage then shown the horrifying moment when the Mazda car knocked down the three men on the Dudley road.

Mr Spencer added: “The driving that you have just seen was not chance. It was not accidental.

“It was deliberate and co-ordinated. It was a modern day equivalent of a chariot charge and it was deadly”.

The trial continues.

Article by Charlotte Greenhalgh

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