(Image: Telegraph & Argus)
A jury in a murder trial has heard how a man from Keighley was left with “catastrophic head and brain injuries” after falling victim to a co-ordinated, pre-planned, and brutal attack in the early hours of the morning.
Suhail Choudry was assaulted by men wielding metal poles and similar weapons shortly after 3am on February 8 this year.
It happened on Flasby Street, a residential road not far from Cliffe Castle Park, in Keighley.
He had suffered 52 marks and injuries including multiple skull fractures as well as extensive brain injuries.
Police at the scene in Keighley (Image: Newsquest)
Despite being taken to the neurological intensive care unit at Leeds General Infirmary his brain injuries were unrecoverable, and he died on January 11.
Six men – described as being involved in the fatal assault or being drivers or look-outs – deny murder and other offences.
They are Mohammed Aliyaan Khan, Hakeem Gulzar, Faisal Khan, Rashid Hussain, Majid Hussain, and Waseem Khan.
Opening the trial at Sheffield Crown Court, prosecution barrister John Harrison KC suggested that Rashid Hussain and Majid Hussain were organisers and were present at the scene of the attack.
He suggested Hakeem Gulzar was a driver who helped the group get away after the attack.
It is alleged that Waseem Islam was a look-out who helped the group to locate Mr Choudry.
Mohammed Aliyaan Khan and Faisal Khan were allegedly two of the four attackers.
A central point of the prosecution case is that each man was either an attacker or a helper/encourager – and that “all intended Mr Choudry to be attacked and caused really serious harm or killed.”
Suhail Choudry (Image: West Yorkshire Police)
• Rashid Hussain, 41, of Redcliffe Street, off Highfield Road, Keighley, denies murder, violent disorder, and having an offensive weapon in a public place.
• Hakeem Gulzar, 28, of Plover Street, near Victoria Park, Keighley, denies murder, violent disorder, and having an offensive weapon in a public place.
• Faisal Khan, 26, of Malsis Road, which runs alongside Lund Park, Keighley, denies murder, violent disorder, and having an offensive weapon in a public place.
• Mohammed Aliyaan Khan, 23, of Malsis Road, Keighley, denies murder, violent disorder, and having an offensive weapon in a public place.
• Majid Hussain, 42, of no fixed abode, Keighley, denies murder, violent disorder, and having an offensive weapon in a public place.
• Waseem Khan, 40, of East Avenue, off Lawkholme Lane, Keighley, denies murder.
Mr Harrison said the defendants, with others, had planned the attack over the preceding days.
The jury heard that they had gathered together and arranged themselves into various cars and were then directed to Mr Choudry’s location on East Avenue, where he and two others were in a silver Toyota.
The attackers are said to have used several cars, including a Ford Puma, a Lexus, and a Volvo.
The jury heard that footage from CCTV showed the Puma and Lexus together on Pitt Street at 1am with weapons taken from the Lexus and put into the Puma’s boot before the Lexus was driven away.
Suhail Choudry (Image: West Yorkshire Police)
Mr Harrison said: “There is no evidence [that] the group had to buy or source weapons and so the prosecution suggest it is reasonable to conclude that one or more of the group is likely to have had ready access to weapons or to store them for the group as a whole.”
At 3.07am the Lexus turns into East Avenue.
At 3.11am four people get out and head towards Mr Choudry’s car, which is on the same street.
At about 3.12am the Ford Puma and the Volvo enter East Avenue from Skipton Road and block Mr Choudry’s car from exiting.
The trio in the Toyota ran away from the attacking group.
Mr Choudry attempted to escape by running down Flasby Street but was caught.
Mr Harrison said: “Some then chased Mr Choudry [down Flasby Street], others seem to have intended to block his escape, and at least four people are seen to carry out a vicious attack – using weapons, including metal bars.”
What occurred was caught on CCTV.
Mr Harrison said: “[It] shows a brutal and sustained attack – hitting him repeatedly while he was on the ground.”
The jury heard how two others in the car with Mr Choudry “were chased and threatened by the group who attacked Mr Choudry, it appears, as part of their plan to frighten witnesses or others caught up in the attack.”
Mr Harrison said that, after having fatally attacked Mr Choudry, the six men escaped in more and different cars and disposed of evidence – such as gloves – as they did so.
The weapons they allegedly used have never been recovered.
Mr Harrison said: “All of these defendants deny any involvement in the group attack.”
He added: “It is apparent [that] the police have been unable to arrest all those involved. There appear to be three other individuals who remain at large and may have left the country to avoid the consequences of their actions.”
He named two of those men as Mohammed Safyaan Ishaq and Abbas Shazad.
Twenty people were arrested in connection with the investigation.
Fourteen have been bailed and six – the defendants – are currently on trial.
The trial continues.