Airport assault accused admits punching an officer six times but insists it was reasonable

A man accused ofassaulting a police officer at Manchester Airport told a court there is nothing he would change about his behaviour during the incident.

Muhammad Amaad, 26, is alleged to have used a "high level of violence" against Pc Zachary Marsden after officers attempted to arrest his brother, Mohammed Fahir Amaaz.

Greater Manchester Police had entered the Terminal Two car park pay station on July 23 last year after reports that Mr Amaaz had headbutted a member of the public inside the airport .

Under cross-examination on Tuesday, Mr Amaad denied that his actions were unlawful or offensive, insisting he believed he and his brother were "under attack" and that he was acting in defence, reports The Telegraph.

Prosecutors allege Mr Amaad grabbed Pc Marsden's right arm as the officer restrained his brother before grabbing the officer by the throat and neck. He is then said to have pushed Pc Marsden back onto a seated area and punched him six times.

Cross examination

Junior counsel Adam Birkby asked: "The prosecution's case is that during the incident at the pay station your use of force was offensive. It was not defensive. Do you agree or disagree?"
Mr Amaad replied: "I disagree."

Mr Birkby continued: "And that level of force, in particular the six punches, was unreasonable."
"No, I disagree," Mr Amaad responded.

"And your use of force was unlawful?"
"I disagree," said the defendant.

Mr Birkby then asked: "On reflection ... is there anything about your behaviour that you would change?"
Mr Amaad answered: "No."

He told the jury that he believed Pc Marsden was choking his younger brother and said he only became physical to intervene. He also claimed that he acted in self-defence after Pc Marsden allegedly punched him first.

His barrister, Chloe Gardner, asked: "Did you believe you were under attack?"
Mr Amaad replied: "Absolutely."

Accused of police assault

Mr Amaad stands accused of assaulting Pc Marsden and causing actual bodily harm.

His brother, Mr Amaaz, faces several charges: assaulting Pc Marsden and Pc Lydia Ward, both allegedly causing actual bodily harm, assaulting emergency worker Pc Ellie Cook, and assaulting a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at a Starbucks in Terminal Two arrivals.

Both men, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, deny all the allegations.

The trial continues.