The trial of two men accused of murdering Salford University student Aya Hachem has collapsed as the jury was discharged after less than one day of deliberations. On Thursday morning the jury at Preston Crown Court was sent home after an application was made, LancsLive reports.
The reasons for this decision are subject to reporting restrictions and cannot be published, in order to avoid prejudicing a future trial.
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Sohayl Suleman, 38, and Junior Lewis Otway, 42, were facing charges of murder and attempted murder following the botched assassination attempt of garage owner Pacha Khan in May 2020. Gunman Zamir Raja was supposed to shoot Mr Khan in a drive-by at his Quick Shine Car Wash on King Street, Blackburn, but Aya tragically stepped into the line of fire and was killed.
The 19-year-old had no involvement in the dispute other than happening to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Last year, eight people were convicted for their roles in the plot, with seven found guilty of her murder and Mr Khan’s attempted murder and one guilty of manslaughter.
Suleman and Otway had stood trial at Preston Crown Court since October 18 and were accused of being involved in the same plot. Both denied any involvement and the jury retired to consider its verdict on Tuesday.
However, it was dramatically called back to the courtroom this morning where the judge, Mr Justice Goose, informed the jury members that they were being discharged. The jury members were told they must not discuss what has been heard during proceedings.
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