A 26-year-old man appeared in court today charged with the murders of three men who died after being struck by a car during this week’s riots in Birmingham.
Haroon Jahan, 21, and brothers Shazad Ali, 30, and Abdul Musavir, 31, suffered fatal injuries when they were hit by the car in the early hours of Wednesday while trying to protect shops in Winson Green, Birmingham, from looters. They were all pronounced dead in hospital.
At Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today, Joshua Donald, 26, from Kelsall Croft, Ladywood, appeared before magistrates charged with three counts of murder.
Donald and a 17-year-old male from Winson Green, who cannot be named because of his age, were arrested on Thursday and were charged late last night after police were granted extra time by Solihull Magistrates’ Court to question them.
Donald, who appeared in court sporting a beard, wearing dark jeans and a black hooded top, spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.
In the hearing, which lasted less than five minutes, District Judge Michael Wheeler said to him: “It is said that on August 10 you murdered Shazad Ali, it is also said you murdered Haroon Jahan and you also murdered Abdul Musavir.”
Mr Wheeler told the defendant his case could not be dealt with at magistrates’ court and he was to be remanded in custody to appear at Birmingham Crown Court tomorrow.
As Donald was taken down by a dock officer a woman in the public gallery mouthed “I love you” to him.
The 17-year-old defendant is also due to appear in court today but the case has yet to be heard.