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Jury clear youth of Hopley murder
19/12/2003
AN Oldham man has been cleared of murdering a teenager after
persuading the jury that he was working in an Asian takeaway on the
night of the attack.
Mohsin Raza (pictured), aged 20 of Brewerton Road - the last
suspect to stand trial over the killing of 19-year-old Gavin Hopley
- was acquitted of murder after claiming he was working at the
Royal Balti Takeaway in Dukinfield and then went straight home to
bed.
Security guard Gavin, from Rmochdale, was chased and beaten up by a
gang of Asian men after he got lost during a night out in
Oldham.
He was hit in the face with a flying kick delivered by a man who
used a fence post as support.
The impact threw the teenager into the air and he cracked his head
on the pavement leaving him with fatal head injuries.
Police also discovered Gavin had been robbed of his watch and chain
as he lay dying on the ground.
Last may five Asian men aged between 18 and 39 all from Glodwick
admitted violent disorder and were given jail terms ranging from
nine to 15 months.
A sixth man admitted theft and was jailed for 21 months.
Initially police charged eight men including Raza with murder but
the charges against them were withdrawn before they came to
trial.
Raza, was later re-charged in March 2003 and after two of the
suspects agreed to make statements implicating him.
Mohammed Zubair, aged 23, later testified against Raza after
charges against him of murder, rioting in Oldham and unrelated
offence of rape were dropped.
The other witness Foulmiah Mohammed, 21, was also originally
charged with Hopley's murder but was later jailed for nine months
for violent disorder.
The court heard that Gavin and two friends had been set upon by a
gang of Asian youths after they strayed into the Glodwick area
looking for a taxi.
The three fled and were split up.
Later Zubair claimed Raza appeared from behind Gavin, grabbed a
fence post in his left hand for support and kicked Gavin on the
left side of his face with his right foot. Zubair claimed Raza then
pulled his hood up and ran away.
Raza denied murder and in a prepared statement handed to police
said he had been working on the night of the attack.
At the end of the trial the jury took just one hour to clear
Raza.
After the verdict Gavin Hopley's parents Gary and Lorraine said
they felt let down by the justice system.
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