Asyraf's attacker found guilty

By ZAHARAH OTHMAN

Judge allows teen’s identity to be revealed, removes restriction because of high-profile case and fixes Beau Isagba’s sentencing for March 9

LONDON; A 17-YEAR-OLD boy was found guilty of both counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and robbery against London riot assault victim Asyraf Haziq Rossli, 20, during last year's London riots.

Judge W. Pawlak, who fixed sentencing for March 9, allowed for the teen's identity to be released.

   He said the automatic restriction of identification, contained in Section 39 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1993, was now removed with immediate effect.

   He said this followed an application from the press because of   the high-profile case.

Beau Isagba, who will be 18 on March 8, was led out of the court by bailiffs.

His mother, who was present throughout the hearing, left in tears.

Pawlak had told the 12-member jury to consider the facts of the case based on the evidence heard and seen during the last four days since the hearing started on Monday.

He advised the jury of three women and nine men to be sure that the defendant intended to cause serious harm to his victim when he delivered the punch.

Pawlak drew the attention of the jury to two of the three counts of indictment relating to the assault.

Count two relates to assaulting without any specific intention of causing harm.

In this respect, the judge said there was no dispute on the seriousness of the injury and reminded the jury of the written evidence of Dr Simon Holmes, the surgeon who specialises in facial injuries.

According to the statement, the blow on the left side of Asyraf's chin was caused by increased force from a fist rather than a weapon.

Count three relates to robbery.

The judge said the defendant had admitted taking the bicycle dishonestly, but denied punching the victim.

According to the defendant's evidence yesterday, he said he saw the bicycle on the ground and took it, repeating that he was tired.

He said he wasn't aware that the bicycle belonged to the victim.

Pawlak reminded the jury of the closed-circuit television camera (CCTV) evidence of incidents in Ilford Road where groups of youths went on a rampage, breaking shop windows and looting.

In several scenes, the defendant was identified as taking part in the looting and smashing of shop windows.

"He had admitted to two counts of burglary, helping to lift a metal shutter of a shop and kicking the window of a shop."

The defendant had said he was acting aggressively only towards properties and not people, although the prosecution had said the defendant had the tendency and inclination for violent behaviour.

Pawlak said: "What is alleged here is violence inflicted on Asyraf.

"You need to decide that his behaviour had that inclination. If you think his behaviour in Ilford is not relevant, then ignore it."

The judge also cautioned the jury that the behaviour on the film might evoke emotions.

"Decide on the case based on evidence and not emotion."

He reminded the jury of the evidence given by Asyraf, his friend Azhar who was caught up in the incident but managed to get away, CCTV installation supervisor Weng Tsang, who witnessed the incident, and his girlfriend, Diane Frutos Peres, who filmed the incident from her ninth-floor flat.

The incident was said to have taken place in Barking in East London on Aug 8 last year during one of the worst riots, where lawlessness and violence especially among youth, swept the country, causing untold damage.

Asyraf and Azhar were on their way to a friend's house when the incident happened at a flyover in Barking.

    Asyraf had been in the country for only a month.

He appeared in court to give evidence   only on the first day of the hearing.

Asyraf's attacker found guilty

Judge allows teen’s identity to be revealed, removes restriction because of high-profile case and fixes Beau Isagba’s sentencing for March 9

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