Judge throws out case against Elland murder accused

May 21 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A 51-YEAR-OLD man accused of murdering Billy Khan during a row in Elland has seen the case against him thrown out by a judge.

Mohammed Farooq, of Langdale Street, Elland, denied being involved in the fatal stabbing of the 33-year-old in the street close to his home last August.

At the close of the prosecution case yesterday, the Honorary Recorder of Bradford, Judge Stephen Gullick, directed the jury to return a not guilty verdict in his case.

The jury at Bradford Crown Court was also directed to find Farooq not guilty of attempting to murder Billy Khan’s brother Yusuf, who was stabbed in the chest during the street violence. They were also asked to acquit Farooq of an alternative allegation that he had wounded Yusuf Khan with intent to do him grievous bodily harm.

Billy Khan died from a fatal stab wound to the abdomen, which the prosecution say was inflicted by Farooq’s brother, 40-year-old Miftah Ul-Haq.

But Judge Gullick told the jury he had concluded there was no evidence to say that Farooq was a party to the use of a knife or knew a knife was being used during the disturbance.

The judge said it was alleged that Farooq had been punching the two Khan brothers and that knives came on the scene and were used.