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DEFENCE CLOSING SPEECHES HAVE CONCLUDED AT THE ROCHDALE SEX ABUSE TRIAL WITH THE JUDGE NOW SUMMING UP 12:58, 20 May 2025 There were claims that there is ‘real doubt’ in the case and that a

‘dreadful mistake’ had been made as defence closing speeches concluded in the Rochdale sex abuse trial. Seven men are on trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester. The two alleged

victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, claim they were sexually abused in the town between 2001 and 2006. The complainants, identified as Girl A and Girl B, both gave evidence in

court during the trial. Jurors have heard the seven defendants were mainly either taxi drivers or market stall traders in the town. The girls were 'passed around' for sex before

being 'discarded', it is alleged. The defendants deny all the allegations. Mohammed Zahid, 64; Kasir Bashir, 50; Mushtaq Ahmed, 66; Roheez Khan, 39; Mohammed Shahzad, 43; Nisar

Hussain, 43; and Naheem Akram, 48, deny all the charges they face. The penultimate closing speech was made by Gemma Maxwell on behalf of Nisar Hussain. He is accused of the rape of Girl A on

a ‘joint enterprise’ basis. Ms Maxwell pointed out that he is not accused of having any sexual contact with Girl A. Prosecutors claim he is guilty of the offence because he allegedly filmed

Girl A being sexually abused by Mr Shahzad and Mr Akram, after driving the two men and Girl A to a quiet road. Both men deny this. The prosecution also claim she was raped by Mr Shahzad and

Mr Akram under threat of the video being circulated, which they both deny. Ms Maxwell said of Mr Hussain: “If he was in on it, why not engage with her sexually? Could it be because having

been foolish enough to film a section of the incident, the driver saw events take a turn he didn’t intend or foresee?” She added: “Presence alone, members of the jury, is not enough. Justice

for [Girl A] is not achieved, quite the opposite in fact, by convicting the wrong person, or a person who upon proper, forensic analysis, you couldn’t be sure is criminally liable.” She

claimed there is ‘real doubt’ in Mr Hussain’s case, and told jurors it was their ‘obligation’ and ‘duty’ to ‘resolve that in his favour’ by finding him not guilty. Ahmed Hossain KC then gave

his closing speech on behalf of the defendant Naheem Akram. Mr Hossain told jurors of his client: “He said to you: ‘I don’t know [Girl A]. I have never communicated with her. I have not had

any contact with her. I didn’t rape her. I was not part of any incident in a car as alleged with a video’. “Importantly, he also said to you: ‘I have no idea why the finger is being pointed

at me’. He said: ‘I would like to know but I’ve got no idea why’. “The ultimate question for you in your deliberations is really, might he be right? That this is a dreadful mistake? Might

he be right? “The answer to that question, I suggest, is absolutely. They are very bold assertions if untrue.” Mr Hossain claimed that the allegations by Girl A are ‘so contradictory that

you simply cannot rely on these accounts at all’. He said that Mr Akram accepted being known by the nickname ‘Lala’. “The word is used for brother, friend, that kind of thing,” Mr Hossain

said of the moniker. Mr Hossain claimed that Girl A had been ‘given’ the name ‘Lala’ years later by another woman. The KC said: “What you have got here, is, you have got a name being

attached to a memory of a word, Lala.” He claimed it was attached ‘in the most…unsafe way you can think of’. Mr Hossain told jurors: “Mistakes happen. A mistake is easy to make. Might Naheem

Akram be right, this is a dreadful, dreadful mistake? I suggest the answer to that question is yes.” Article continues below Trial judge Jonathan Seely then began summing up the facts of

the case to the jury. “It is very much the final lap for you before you consider your verdicts,” he told jurors in the trial, which began in January. * MOHAMMED ZAHID, 64, of Station Road,

Crumpsall, Manchester, is charged with 10 counts of rape; four counts of indecency with a child; and six counts of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse * KASIR

BASHIR, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, is charged with two counts of rape; and two counts of indecency with a child. * MUSHTAQ AHMED, 66, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, is charged with four

counts of rape; four counts of indecency with a child; and a single count of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse * ROHEEZ KHAN, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, is

charged with a single count of rape * MOHAMMED SHAHZAD, 43, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, is charged with eight counts of rape; indecency with a child; indecent assault; and assault by

penetration * NISAR HUSSAIN, 43, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, is charged with four counts of rape; indecent assault; and assault by penetration * NAHEEM AKRAM, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale,

is charged with 11 counts of rape; indecency with a child; indecent assault; and assault by penetration PROCEEDING.