Court reporter Andrew Bardsley looks back at some of the most high profile cases the M.E.N. has covered
The past 12 months have seen crimes which shocked and appalled our readers in equal measure. Harrowing tales of murder, gangland feuds and brazen frauds were all heard in Manchester's courts.
The devoted couple made a suicide pact, and planned to kill themselves in the garden of their home in Hale. Mansfield, 73, said his wife told him: "When it gets too bad, don’t leave me to go into hospital. Please do something about it, kill me." Sparing him from prison, the judge, Mr Justice Goose described the killing was 'an act of love, of compassion to end her suffering'. "The last thing you would have wanted was not joining your wife in death," he told Mansfield.
Five people were knifed, including a man in his 50s and four women aged between 19 and 49. As shoppers realised what was happening they ran for their lives, some desperately seeking shelter in shops. In January, Chevelleau was sentenced under the Mental Health Act, to be detained at Ashworth secure hospital indefinitely.
Cookson had previously been hospitalised after being attacked by another man in Mr Smith's flat. Cookson believed Mr Smith had set up the attack. Brazen fraud by criminals who exploited Government's Covid loan support for struggling businesses In extraordinary times, the Government stepped in to help businesses who were struggling during the pandemic. But cynical criminals took advantage of the system.
Hussain was jailed for 15 years for his role in the gang, while Shafique was locked up for five years. Hussain, 44, of Tonge Moor Road, Bolton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal, conspiracy to handle stolen goods, conspiracy to export and fraud. The doctor, aged 85 by the time he appeared in court in July, had tried to take a sample from the hip bone, but was unsuccessful and instead took a sample from her sternum. He inserted the biopsy needle but missed the sternum 'altogether', and caused a fatal puncture wound to the pericardium which encloses the heart.
Teenage boy chased by 'pack of wolves' and murdered in the street "All I can say is thank you for showing me your true colours," Kelly Brown told one of her 16-year-old son's killers after he made a 'cutthroat' gesture towards her after receiving a life sentence. Richards chased Rhamero while armed with a knife, and Ryan Cashin joined the foot chase. Cashin took the weapon from Richards before stabbing Rhamero to the legs in a front garden on Norton Street.
They had been picked up by Uber taxi driver Ali Asghar in Oldham and were heading towards Rochdale. Treacy, 18, started eating a chicken burger and chips in Mr Asghar's new Mercedes. "By your drunken violence over the period of a few minutes you have ruined your lives, but that is as nothing in comparison with the damage you have done to others by your savage and brutal behaviour." McPartland, of Hollins Road, Oldham, and Treacy, of Gawsworth Close, Oldham, were both found guilty of murder after a trial.
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