THE jury in the trial of three people accused of being involved in an acid attack which left a man disfigured is set to retire to consider its verdict.

Awais Akram was also stabbed and beaten by a group of men after being ambushed in Marchant Road, Leytonstone, on July 2.

It is alleged that he was attacked in revenge for a relationship the 25-year-old, of Mayville Road, Leytonstone, had formed with married Sadia Khatoon, who he had met on Facebook.

Mrs Khatoon’s cousin, Mohammed Vakas, 26, of Hatherley Road, Walthamstow, her brother Mohammed Adeel, 20, of Pearl Road, Walthamstow, and a 17-year-old who cannot be named, are accused of conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent.

Adeel and the 17-year-old deny both charges.

Vakas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause GBH with intent, but not-guilty to conspiracy to murder.

At the Old Bailey last Thursday, the Common Serjeant of London, Judge Brian Barker, told jury members that in order to find the three guilty on either counts, they need to decide that they were involved in the plot to cause murder or GBH, rather than carrying out the attack itself.

He said: “The prosecution say this is an organised plot in order to avenge the damage caused to the reputation of the these families and the perceived disgrace to those families needed Mr Akram to be killed.”

“They say the three defendants carried an active part in putting the plot into action on the ground. They say this is not just disfigurement but death in the most painful way, given the amount of acid that was used.”

Summing up the defence, the judge said Adeel's reasons for being in the area where the attack took place are “not credible”.

He added that Adeel was recorded discussing how to cover-up the attack while being held in a police van after the attack.

Vakas insists the attack was about “maiming”, rather than killing, the victim, the judge said, and claims Mr Akram's recollection of attempts to pour the acid down his throat were a result of his “memory playing tricks with him”.

Vakas also claims there were no attempts to use the knife to kill Mr Akram.

The 17-year-old maintains he was “unwittingly duped” and that he would not get involved in a “Punjabi dispute”.

Judge Barker reminded the jury that the prosecution claim Sadia Khatoon and her husband Shakeel Abassi coordinated the plot and would be in the dock also, but fled to Pakistan following the attack.

He directed the jury that Vakas’ guilty plea indicated a conspiracy existed “at least” to cause GBH, but that it should not be used as evidence against either Adeel or the 17-year-old.

The trial continues.

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