Mushin Ahmed trial: Jury to retire to consider verdicts

JURORS in the trial of two men accused of murdering Rotherham pensioner Mushin Ahmed are expected to begin their deliberations this afternoon.

Judge Mr Justice Stephen Males gave jurors legal directions before starting to summarise two weeks of evidence at Sheffield Crown Court this morning.

Dale Jones (30), of East Bawtry Road, Whiston, and Damien Hunt (30), of Doncaster Road, Clifton, are both accused of murdering Mr Ahmed (81) last August 10, while he was on his way to prayers.

His injuries led to an infection which caused the pensioner's death in hospital 11 days later.

Mr Justice Males explained that jurors must decide whether either man or both attacked Mr Ahmed and whether they intended to do him serious bodily harm.

He said: “There is no doubt violence was inflicted on Mr Ahmed by both defendants or one of them.

“You must consider, in relation to each, whether he played some part in the violence by inflicting it himself or encouraging someone else to do so.

“If you are not sure, you must find that defendant not guilty. If you are sure, you must also be sure he intended to cause some serious harm.”

The judge told jurors that they could consider stamping on Mr Ahmed as proof of intent to do serious harm, but not a punch alone.

He added that they may find any defendant who took part in the attack but did not intend serious harm guilty of manslaughter.

Mr Justice Males also said jurors should not interpret Jones' refusal to take the stand as proof of guilt, he added.

But that they may decide Jones did not testify because his evidence would not stand up to cross-examination.

Jurors are expected to retire and consider their verdicts this afternoon.

Both Jones and Hunt deny murder.