Police officer 'feared his gun could be snatched'

A POLICE officer who says he feared his Glock semiautomatic weapon would be snatched during an alleged assault at Manchester Airport has denied he kicked a prone suspect in the head because he was ‘furious’.

- JOHN SCHEERHOUT

PC Zachary Marsden said he was ‘strangled’ and suffered 10 to 15 blows to his head when he confronted two brothers at the Terminal 2 arrivals pay station car park on July 23 last year.

He defended his actions when he was cross-examined at Liverpool Crown Court, where Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and Muhammad Amaad, 26, both of Tarnside Close in Rochdale, deny assaulting armed cops and say they acted in self-defence.

Mohammed Fahir Amaaz was captured throwing 10 punches, two ‘elbow strikes’ and one kick, jurors have heard. The court has been told Muhammad Amaad was seen throwing six punches during CCTV played to the jury. They say they acted in self-defence.

Jurors have also seen footage of the armed police officer PC Zachary Marsden kicking Mr Amaaz in the face while he was on the ground after the suspect had been tasered. The video then appears to show him to aim a stamp at his head.

Cross-examined by Mr Amaaz’s KC Imran Khan as the trial resumed on Tuesday (July 8), PC Marsden agreed he made a decision to kick the suspect after he had been tasered and was on the ground.

The KC said Mr Amaaz was on the floor and he asked the constable whether he was aware he was speaking to his mother. “Not speaking to his mother. A person, yes,” he said.

The KC suggested the person appeared to be caring for Mr Amaaz. PC Marsden said he “could not comment” on what the woman was doing to Mr Amaaz. “It looks like she’s got her hands on his back,’ he said.