A man caught on CCTV ploughing into four pedestrians with his car after an altercation and fled abroad was convicted yesterday at Manchester Crown Court.
Aqab Hussain, 21, was convicted of four counts of attempted murder after he drove his car directly at the group who were walking on John Dalton Street on August 21 2012 after he had an altercation with them on Albert Square.
Hussain hit three of the men with one sustaining a serious head injury and two others having significant injuries. One of the men was able to jump out of the way.
One of the victims was left with life-changing injuries.
Three days after the incident, Hussein fled the UK and was arrested seven weeks later at Manchester Airport.
Rachael Pavion, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Aqab Hussain used his car as a weapon, he sought revenge by driving at speed deliberately at the four men with a clear intention to kill.
“After he struck his victims, he drove from the scene and showed complete disregard for the harm he had caused. One of the men received life changing head injuries; he was catapulted into the air after being carried on the bonnet of the vehicle for several metres, the two other men sustained substantial injuries.
“Eye witnesses, together with CCTV and forensic evidence helped to prove that he was the driver of the vehicle that had collided with the victims. The CPS has worked closely alongside the police to piece all the evidence together and present a strong case to the jury, who have today accepted the prosecution case and delivered a guilty verdict.
“As a result, Aqab Hussain has been brought to justice and he must now take responsibility for his dangerous actions.”
Hussain will be sentenced at a later date.
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook.
