The families of three young men who were jailed after the murder of a teenager in Moss Side have submitted an application to refer their cases to the court of appeal.
Durrell Goodall and Reano Walters were both found guilty of the murder of 18-year-old Abdul Hafidah, who was stabbed to death in the south Manchester suburb in 2016.
Eleven men, including Goodall and Walters, were convicted of his murder or manslaughter after being charged by the Crown Prosecution Service with the killing itself - under joint enterprise law.
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Goodall, who was 20 at the time of the trial at Manchester Crown Court in 2017, was jailed for life with a minimum of 16 years and Walters, who was 18, was detained for life with a minimum of 20 years.
Another man, Nathanial Williams, who was 17 at the time, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 19 years after being convicted of driving a car that ran down and hit Mr Hafidah.
Mr Hafidah was a member of the ‘Rusholme Crips’ street gang, the court previously heard. The 11 men convicted over his death were said to be members of, or had affiliations with, a rival gang based in Moss Side known as ‘Active Only’, or AO.
Prosecutors alleged that all of the young men involved in the case were part of AO and allegedly pursued Mr Hafidah, who was said to have walked into 'enemy territory' on Westwood Street in Moss Side.
Mr Hafidah, the court heard, was spotted by members of the AO gang, who chased him before he was knocked down by a Vauxhall Corsa on Moss Lane East then ‘cornered’.
Campaigners claim that proof that 10 of the men were involved in a gang was non-existent. The families of Williams, Goodall and Walters claim their sons had been prejudiced as a result of being Black and mixed-race young men from Moss Side.
Greater Manchester Police have continuously denied that the investigation team sought to prosecute the men based on their race, gender, age, or any gang affiliation, but 'based on evidence.'
Today (May 26), the families of Goodall, Walters and Williams, supported by Manchester MP, Lucy Powell, have submitted a 189-page application to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) - with the hope their cases will be referred to the Court of Appeal.
Solicitors Hodge Jones and Allen claim they have obtained new evidence which may be pertinent to the case. This morning, the families delivered a statement, outside the CCRC in Birmingham, before delivering the application for appeal on behalf of their sons.
"Back in 2017, from the start of the criminal trial that convicted our sons, our fear was always that our sons had been prejudged, because of the colour of their skin and because of where they are from – being Black and mixed-race young people from Moss Side in Manchester," they said.
"What are people, like those on the juries in these trials, being told about young people from our community? Who can talk about who they really are? We can as their families.
"They are not in gangs. Most people in their trial had not been in trouble with the police before. They had jobs, were going to college or for some, training to be footballers.
"In their efforts to convict all the boys of murder, the prosecution relied on the story that they are all in a gang, based on prejudice about boys and young people who live in our communities in South Manchester. They are not guilty by association. We know our boys didn't take anyone’s life."
Their application is being backed by Labour MP for Manchester Central, Lucy Powell, who has written a letter in support to the House of Commons.
In the letter, seen by the M.E.N, she says: "In my role as MP for Manchester Central, I have raised consistent concerns about some of the tactics used to police young black people in my constituency who live in inner-city suburbs, particularly through what I think is the overuse and racially disproportionate use of the joint enterprise doctrine in these cases.
"I do not suggest that those who commit murder or serious violence should not face the full force of the law. However, I do believe that rigorous standards of evidence should be applied in all cases, particularly in those which rely upon unrelated social media posts, rap videos and neighbourhood narratives to establish foresight and prior knowledge that does not stand up to scrutiny.
"Together with my colleague David Lammy MP, I have also expressed longstanding concerns about the disproportionate use of joint enterprise prosecutions against Black and mixed race young men like Nathaniel, Durrell and Reano."
She added: "I request that you carefully consider this application, paying particular attention to the prosecution’s gang evidence through the lens of the Casey review, the new legal submissions and the fresh material that the legal team has uncovered."
Lawyers representing the families of Williams, Walters and Goodall say they have fresh evidence relating to the case, and claim the original prosecution case was a 'gross miscarriage of justice.'
Keir Monteith KC, Barrister at Garden Court Chambers, acting for the families of said: "We want to work with the CCRC, the previous lawyers and the prosecution to put right this gross miscarriage of justice.
"The errors that occurred here need to be viewed through the lens of institutional racism and action needs to be taken, as per the Macpherson report, to eliminate it.
"Such an approach would require a comprehensive review of how the prosecution deploy evidence of association, rap videos, police officer opinion evidence of gangs and the doctrine of joint enterprise against Black and mixed-race defendants."
Devonte Cantrill was found guilty of murder and detained for life with a minimum period of 23 years. Delroy Wright, Durrell Ford and Trey Wilson were also convicted of murder after separate trials.
William George, Devonte Neish and a 15-year-old - who cannot be named for legal reasons - were all convicted of manslaughter.
Remekell Samuels pleaded guilty to manslaughter. George was jailed for 12 years, Neish and Samuels detained for eight years and the teenage boy - was detained for five years.
In a statement provided by Mr Hafidah's family at the time, he was described as a 'loving son, brother and uncle.'
"He was selfless, putting everyone before himself. He cherished the good times he spent with his family and friends and was always smiling and laughing," they said.
A GMP spokesperson said: "This tragic and complex case was investigated by GMP and presented to the CPS who authorised charges. The investigation team did not seek to prosecute the defendants based on their race, gender, age, or any gang affiliation but based on evidence.
"Over the course of two trials, the prosecution evidence was laid out and witnesses were severely tested by the defence barristers. Based on the evidence heard, the jury found seven men guilty of murder, three men guilty of manslaughter and one boy guilty of manslaughter.
"GMP is committed to ensuring proportionate policing of Greater Manchester’s diverse communities and is continuing to work with diversity, equality and inclusion leads and Independent Advisory Groups, made up of neighbourhood representatives, to ensure officers deliver outstanding service to all whilst fighting, preventing and reducing crime; keeping people safe; and building public trust and confidence."
A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said prosecutors 'carefully assess the evidence in cases such as these, considering each individual person, in respect of each charge before determining if our legal test is met.'
"We will always carefully consider the contents of any referral made to the Court of Appeal," they added.
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