Eight youths plead not guilty to murdering 18-year-old near Smethwick mosque - more arrests expected
Nine youths appear in court accused of killing Zeshan Afzal who was found with stab wounds near the Jamia Masjid Mosque on Oldbury Road in Smethwick.
Eight youths have pleaded not guilty to murdering 18-year-old Zeshan Afzal in the grounds of a Smethwick mosque as the police investigation continues.
At Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday nine youths appeared before Judge Michael Chambers KC accused of his murder which happened near the Oldbury Road Jamia Masjid on February 20 following Ramadan prayers.
Eight of the defendants entered a not guilty plea to murder. Two of them, both aged 17, also pleaded not guilty to possession of a knife on the same date.
A ninth youth was not required to enter a plea at this stage. All spoke to confirm their names at the hearing.
Barrister Mr Michael Duck KC, prosecuting, said: “We are currently looking at a nine-handed trial. There is a potential for two further defendants as the police investigation is ongoing.”
Judge Chambers said the trial will be held at Leicester Crown Court sitting at Loughborough in October before a high court judge due to the number of young defendants involved in the case.
Addressing the youths, who cannot be publicly named, he said: “If you fail to attend your trial you run the risk of it proceeding in your absence which may mean that you are not represented.
“In the meantime you must remain in custody.”
The trial is expected to last up to 10 weeks.
At the time West Midlands Police said the incident followed disorder in the vicinity and that two other men, aged 19 and 22, were taken to hospital although their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.
An online appeal set up in tribute to Mr Afzal raised £10,882.