TWO MEN remained in custody last night after appearing in court charged with the murders of three men struck by a car during the riots in Birmingham.
Joshua Donald (26) from Ladywood, appeared before magistrates charged with three counts of murder at a brief hearing at Birmingham magistrates court yesterday. Mr Donald and a 17-year-old male from Winson Green, Birmingham, who cannot be named due to his age, were arrested on Thursday and charged after police were given extra time to question them.
Haroon Jahan (21) and brothers Shazad Ali (30) and Abdul Musavir (31) died after they were hit by the car in the early hours of Wednesday while trying to protect shops from looters in Winson Green.
A spokeswoman for West Midlands police confirmed that a 32-year-old man who was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of murder was bailed, as was a 16-year-old boy, pending further inquiries. Two further men, aged 23 and 27, who were arrested late on Saturday, are being interviewed in custody.
West Midlands police also confirmed they had recovered a third vehicle believed to be involved.
An estimated 2,000 people gathered in Summerfield Park, near Winson Green, to show unity and solidarity against the rioters. The crowd observed a minute’s silence in honour of the three men, and heard from Tariq Jahan, father of one of the victims, who, in the hours following his son’s death, urged calm so that no one else would get hurt.
Mr Jahan said the show of unity was giving him strength. "All I can ask is, forget about me, I'm nobody. Remember the three that sacrificed their lives for this community. They didn't die in vain, they died for this community, and I hope this community will remember them," he said. – ( Guardianservice)