The most recent report from the Manchester Evening News of this latest trial centred round a Rochdale gang.
A man accused of raping a girl 20 years ago claimed he had been mistakenly identified as the perpetrator.
Arshad Mohammed is accused of raping two girls, allegations which he denies. His barrister questioned one of them in court, as the trial of six men accused of historic sexual offences in Rochdale continued.
Earlier in the case, prosecutors alleged that the defendants had sexually abused the three alleged victims in the case in the ‘most humiliating and degrading way imaginable’.
Tahir Rashid, 54, Mohammed Saleem, 46, Sucklane Shah, 46, Amjad Mahmood, 53, Itfaq Hussain, 45, and Arshad Mohammed, 55, all deny the offences they are accused of.
The complainants are referred to as Girl A, Girl B and Girl C for legal reasons.
Girl A has been questioned in court by defence barristers acting on behalf of the defendants. For Arshad Mohammed, Bob Sastry put it to Girl A that she had been mistaken in identifying the defendant as her alleged abuser in a video identity parade.
“I definitely didn’t mistake him,” Girl A said. Girl A alleges that she was raped by Mr Mohammed in the back of a car behind a chip shop. He denies this.
Jurors have heard that Girl A recalled attending a hotel with Mr Mohammed and Girl B on another occasion, where the defendant was said to have abused Girl B while Girl A was present.
“He has not in fact ever met you, or been to a hotel with you,” Mr Sastry claimed.
“He has,” Girl A replied.
“He doesn’t accept he ever had sex with you,” Mr Sastry put it to the complainant.
“Well, he can say that, that’s fine,” Girl A replied.
The trial continues
