Kian Tordoff murder trial hears why defendant came forward

Mohammed Adil Hussain, 18, of Kite Mews, Lower Grange was the last of six people arrested in the investigation into the 19-year-old’s death on John Street last October 10.

Arbaz Khan, 22, Aizaz Khan, 27, both of Yew Tree Avenue in the Daisy Hill area, Amaad Shakiel, 20, of Leaventhorpe Lane, Adam Qayum, 23, of Avenel Road, Allerton, Mr Hussain and a 17-year-old who cannot be named due to his age, have been charged with murder and the attempted murder of Matthew Page – who is also known as Matthew Lowther.

All deny the charges and are currently seven days into a trial at Bradford Crown Court (BCC).

Five of them were arrested and charged with the two offences in October last year, but it took until November for Mr Hussain to be identified.

West Yorkshire Police shared CCTV footage on November 15 last year of a man on a street, wearing grey jogging bottoms and a black hoodie, including an image of him getting out of what we now know to be a white Seat Leon.

The white Seat Leon pulled up on Westgate, just past a bus shelter at the top of Sackville Street, and a large-scale brawl erupted in the road after Arbaz Khan got out the car and was seemingly punched in the face when approaching a man, nicknamed “Chaser”.

Mr Hussain, Mr Shakiel and Mr Qayum were also in the Seat and moved towards the fight, before retreating to the car, with the first two assaulted in the melee.

Just half-an-hour later, Mr Tordoff was stabbed to death by the 17-year-old, while he also inflicted a life-threatening wound to Mr Lowther.

Mr Hussain was also involved with that second incident.

On the seventh day of the trial (Wednesday) the prosecution began to come to the end of its case and read out a list of agreed facts, which included details about police interviews with the defendants.

This revealed Mr Hussain came forward to police a day after The T&A had shared the force’s appeal.

He contacted his solicitor, Mr Shaikh, to come forward and was interviewed on November 17, 2021 between 1.25pm and 2.20pm, the jury heard.

An officer asked why he had taken that course of action.

Mr Hussain replied: “Because I’m 17 and my picture’s all over the T&A.”

His solicitor then read a pre-prepared statement on Mr Hussain’s behalf, which outlined he denied the allegations and would say no more as police told him they have CCTV and he did not wish to speculate.

The then 17-year-old gave replies of “no comment” to further questions asked.

Before a second interview later that day, Mr Hussain submitted another pre-prepared statement, which his solicitor read out again.

He denied the allegations again and said: “I have attended voluntarily at the station as loads of people have said I’m on the T&A which is a website, people have been saying it’s to do with murder, I’ve handed myself in to sort this out, I’ve contacted my solicitor to tell him to contact police as I didn’t know what to do.”

An officer then said: “At the beginning of the last interview you did say to me ‘I’m 17 and the pictures of me are all over the T&A.”

Mr Hussain replied: “Which I meant was this.”

The officer said: “Right so you’re saying that that was an incorrect statement that you made?”

He replied: “Statement, yes love.”

He was then asked a series of further questions and gave replies of “no comment”.

Mr Hussain was formally cautioned and charged with the murder of Mr Tordoff and the attemped murder of Mr Lowther at 10.41pm on November 17, 2021.

He replied: “No reply. It wasn’t me.”

The jury had a day off on Thursday, but the trial continues.