A 20 year old man from Prestwich, Manchester has been acquitted by a jury of murder following a 5 week trial at Manchester Crown Court.

The defendant was represented by Gurdeep Garcha K.C. leading Justin Jarmola – instructed by Arun Deane of 1Law Solicitors, 12 Caroline Street, Birmingham B3 1TR.

The prosecution alleged that the defendant was involved in a long-running feud with the victim, which had featured various incidents of violence. On 1st August 2025, the deceased confronted the defendant at Bury Power League, where the defendant had attended to play football. The deceased approached the defendant with a baseball bat and struck him twice. The defendant took a “Call of Duty” style combat knife from his car and stabbed the victim once in the arm. Thereafter, the defendant chased the victim through the car park. The victim eventually fell to the floor, whereupon he was stabbed a further 7 times by the defendant, including to his upper chest and in his back.

The defendant then disposed of the knife and his clothing and made his way to Manchester Airport, with, it was alleged, the intention of leaving the jurisdiction. The deceased died within a short time from catastrophic blood loss. The pathological evidence disclosed that some of the stab wounds had been inflicted with severe force. ]

It was the defendant’s case that he had been the victim of a campaign of violence and intimidation by the victim. In an unplanned confrontation he was attacked by the victim who was wielding a baseball bat and so acted in lawful self-defence in trying to protect himself and his friends.

In addition, Mr Garcha K.C. and Mr Jarmola successfully argued that the evidence provided a basis for the defence of “Loss of Control” to be left to the jury. By very careful analysis of extensive CCTV footage and eye-witness evidence, Mr Garcha K.C. and Mr Jarmola were able to establish that not only had the victim instigated the violence in which he himself was fatally stabbed; but the defendant’s response was a wholly spontaneous reaction in a very fast-moving incident.

After a lengthy jury deliberation, Mr Garcha K.C. and Mr Jarmola’s client was acquitted of murder by the jury and convicted of manslaughter as well as possession of a knife. His two friends, who were present at the scene but did not stab the deceased, were both acquitted of all charges.

Links to this trial:

https://share.google/qjU7EA57iiaAxyaLl
https://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/25911907.three-men-not-guilty-murder-teen-stabbed-death-bury/