Mansoor Mahmood murder trial: Suspect to stand re-trial after jury fails to reach verdict over father's killing
The jury has failed to reach a verdict in the trial of a man accused of stabbing a father of two in a late-night street fight in Brierley Hill.
Niron Parker-Lee, aged 20, was charged with murdering Mansoor Mahmood on the High Street in October 2016 by stabbing him in the chest.
He has been on trial at Birmingham Crown Court for the past five days but after six and a half hours deliberation the jury were unable to bring a majority verdict.
A retrial has been granted at the request of prosecuting counsel James Millington, QC, and a date provisionally set for July 16.
Dismissing the jury following the deadlock yesterday afternoon, Judge Simon Drew, QC, said: “It is sometimes not possible for the jury to reach a verdict. Do not be disappointed.”
Factory worker Mr Mahmood, aged 24, was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, after staggering into a Dixi Chicken take-away restaurant following the confrontation on October 15 but died a short time later, leaving behind his wife Aisha and two children Isa and Awais.
Parker-Lee, of Blewitt Street, Pensnett, who had denied murder, was arrested after a ten month long manhunt which featured an appeal on BBC Crimewatch and a £6,000 reward
He has been remanded in custody until the retrial.
