Manchester Airport assault retrial collapses after jury deadlock
A retrial into the alleged assault of a police officer by two brothers at Manchester Airport has ended in failure after jurors failed to reach a verdict. The case, involving brothers aged 28 and 31, now faces an uncertain future as prosecutors weigh next steps.
Manchester Crown Court confirmed on Friday that the retrial of brothers Amir and Faisal Khan, then aged 28 and 31, collapsed after jurors failed to reach a unanimous or majority verdict following two weeks of testimony and evidence.
The brothers, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, stood accused of assaulting a police officer during an altercation at Manchester Airport on September 12, 2023. Prosecutors alleged the men approached officers responding to a disturbance in Terminal 3 and struck one officer to the ground before fleeing. Bodycam footage and eyewitness accounts were central to the case.
Key Points
- ⚖️ Retrial collapsed after jury deadlock in Manchester Crown Court
- 👥 Brothers Amir (28) and Faisal Khan (31) from Oldham accused of assaulting officer
- 📅 Incident occurred September 12, 2023, at Manchester Airport Terminal 3
Defense lawyers argued the brothers acted in self-defense, claiming officers used excessive force during the initial confrontation. They pointed to inconsistencies in witness statements and CCTV footage showing the officer stumbling before any contact with the brothers. The jury of seven women and five men began deliberations on Wednesday but failed to resolve their differences by the end of the week.
| Evidence Type | Prosecution | Defense |
|---|---|---|
| Bodycam Footage | Shows officer struck | Shows officer unsteady |
| Witness Statements | Support assault claim | Inconsistent accounts |
| CCTV | Limited view | Suggests no initial contact |
Judge Martin Taintor formally discharged the jury on Friday afternoon, expressing regret at the outcome but acknowledging the impossibility of further progress. “This is not a verdict of innocence or guilt,” he told the court. “It simply means justice could not be served today.”
📋 By The Numbers
- 2 — Number of brothers charged
- 7 — Number of women on the jury
- 5 — Number of men on the jury
- 12 — Days of testimony before collapse
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it would review the case before deciding whether to pursue a third trial. A spokesperson said, “We are carefully considering our next steps in the public interest.” The original trial in March 2024 ended in a hung jury; this retrial was the second attempt to secure a conviction.
💡 Pro Tip
In cases involving conflicting evidence from bodycam footage and witness accounts, defense teams often focus on timing and perspective—highlighting gaps where doubt can be planted in jurors’ minds.
The collapse leaves the alleged assault unresolved and raises questions about police use-of-force protocols at high-pressure transport hubs. Manchester Airport has not commented on whether operational changes will follow. The brothers remain on bail with conditions not to contact the officer involved.
- 🚨 The retrial’s collapse marks the second hung jury in this case
- 🔍 Bodycam inconsistencies became a focal point of cross-examination
- 💔 The officer, who suffered minor injuries, has not spoken publicly