The family of a man who was killed on the A34 in East Didsbury earlier this week have now paid a touching tribute to him.
It comes after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) received reports of a serious incident shortly before 1:40am on Tuesday (23 January 2024) on the A34 Kingsway, at the junction of Parrs Wood Lane to Queensway, in Manchester.
When officers attended the scene, they found that a 30-year-old man had been assaulted.
The victim was subsequently taken to hospital for treatment – but despite the best attempts of emergency services, both at the scene and in hospital, he sadly passed away from his injuries a short time later, GMP confirmed.
His family have been notified, and are continuing to be supported by specially-trained officers who have been deployed.
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Family pays tribute to man killed on A34 in East Didsbury as murder investigation continues / Credit: GMP
GMP proceeded to launch a murder investigation following the tragic incident – with enquiries still ongoing, an 18-year-old man having already been arrested on suspicion of murder, who remains in custody for questioning, and the public also being urged to come forward with any information they may have.
According to GMP, the victim and suspect are thought to have both been travelling in separate vehicles along Kingsway leading up to the incident.
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At a traffic light, an altercation occurred, and the suspect had left the scene in their vehicle.
Now, with the first arrest made and murder investigation continuing on, the victim has been named as Sadiq Al-lami, and his loving family have spoken out for the first time to pay a touching tribute to the 30-year-old described as always being “full of life”.
#TRIBUTE | Following a murder investigation this week in East #Didsbury near to the junction of Parrs Wood, the victim has been identified as Sadiq Al-lami.
His family said 'his love and laughter were contagious' as they paid tribute to him.
The family’s tribute reads in full: “Sadiq’s warmth and love touched the hearts of everyone that he met. His love and laughter were contagious, and he was always full of life. Sadiq will be greatly missed and will never be forgotten.”
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Anyone with information, or who believes they may have CCTV or dashcam footage that could assist detectives with their investigations, is asked to come forward by calling 101 and quoting log 166 of 23/01/2024.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or submit details direct online using the dedicated Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) here.
Featured Image – GMP (via Family Handout)
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
25th January 2024 
