Crimes of ‘Asian grooming gangs’ should not affect jury’s considerations, Rochdale sexual abuse trial told

The final speeches for the defence began yesterday at Crown Court Minshull Street Manchester. From the Manchester Evening News

Rochdale’s ‘unhappy fate’ as being ‘synonymous’ with the crimes of ‘Asian grooming gangs’ should not affect the considerations of the jury, a sexual abuse trial has heard.

Closing speeches from defence barristers began today (Weds) in the case, which began in January. Mohammed Zahid, 64; Kasir Bashir, 50; Mushtaq Ahmed, 66; Roheez Khan, 39; Mohammed Shahzad, 43; Nisar Hussain, 43; and Naheem Akram, 48, deny all the charges they face.

Lisa Wilding KC, representing Mr Zahid, was the first defence lawyer to address the jury.

Outlining his case, she said: “He denies any sexual activity with either of the complainants in this case. He denies ever meeting [Girl B] or knowingly doing so. He denies everything that she alleges. “He accepts he knew [Girl A]. But he denies any sexual activity took place.” Ms Wilding told jurors: “You don’t convict because you have heard, or read, or seen that Rochdale grooming gangs were prolific.

“You don’t convict on sympathy, or empathy, or rhetoric. The burden of proving all of this rests on the Crown.

“You were told for example of the unhappy fate of the town of Rochdale, that its name has become synonymous not with the great achievements of the industrial revolution, but the widespread publicity that has arisen from the prosecution of men of what has become known as Asian grooming gangs.

“It is a fact that you know from your everyday life that others have been convicted of criminal activity, more widely arising from criminality in Rochdale but also specifically. You must approach this cause with a surgeon’s precision.

“The fact that other men have committed crimes is not relevant to your determination about whether these men have committed crimes. You must decide this case against each defendant on the evidence you heard in this courtroom, not anything outside, not anything that has gone before.”