Crime

Man who was ‘on the run’ for eight years charged with murder after Urmston shooting in 2015

A long time coming.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 17th January 2024

A man who has been “on the run” for has finally been tracked-down and charged with a murder that happened more than eight years ago.

Abdul Ahsan, of no fixed abode, has been charged with murder in relation to the death of Andre Marshall in the Trafford town of Urmston all the way back in 2015.

Enquiries by the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers initially investigating the incident identified the 27-year-old as a suspect, and proceeded to circulate him as ‘wanted’ in 2015 – and now finally, after being on the run for eight years, Ahsan was tracked down to Pakistan and was subsequently extradited in a joint effort by UK and Pakistan authorities.

He was escorted back to the UK by officers from the Joint International Crime Centre (JICC) on Tuesday 16 January 2024, GMP has confirmed, and has been remanded in custody.

Ahsan will appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday 17 January 2024).

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The charges placed on Ahsan come after Andre Marshall’s body was found at 7:26 am on Wednesday 20 May 2015 in the parking area of Manor Park, in Urmston, before it was was later established that he had sadly died from “multiple gunshot wounds”.

Two people have already been sentenced for their involvement in Andre’s murder.

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On Thursday 19 May 2016, 26-year-old Danial Shahid was found guilty of assisting an offender following a trial at Manchester Crown Court, and was sentenced to four years in prison, while 29-year-old Kadell Rivers pleaded guilty to assisting an offender and possession of an offensive weapon at an earlier hearing, and on the same day, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

“This charge is an important development in the investigation into the death of Andre Marshall,” commented Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand, of GMP’s Major Incident Team.

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“On behalf of our investigation team, I would like to thank our colleagues in the National Crime Agency and also the Pakistan Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the UK Crown Prosecution Service who have all jointly worked together to facilitate this progress in our investigation.

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“GMP continues the pursuit to finding justice for Andre’s family.”

Featured Image – GMP

Crime

Man United broadcaster FlexUTD responds after suffering ‘awful’ racist abuse on camera

Danny Jones Danny Jones FlexUTD responds after racist abuse by woman in post-match video Man United

Manchester United content creator, YouTuber and digital presenter, FlexUTD, has shared a disappointed but defiant response following a racist incident captured during a video after the game this weekend.

Flex – real name Flex Alexander – is a familiar face among Man United fans and a well-known personality across the online English football culture, having previously worked with another popular fan channel in The United Stand before founding his own brand, United View.

Whilst recording his regular post-match analysis outside Old Trafford after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea on Sunday, the social media influencer was interrupted by a woman and fellow United supporter.

After seemingly giving someone a quick shout-out, she then proceeds to wander out of frame before appearing to utter a racial slur off-camera in the form of an offensive twist on the fan base’s famous anti-Glazer chant.

racist woman on man united fan cam
racist abuse united view
Credit: United View (via YouTube)

In the video shared to the official YouTube channel, he is visibly stunned by the racist outburst and members of the crew behind the camera can also be heard asking, “Did you just see what I think you said?”, adding “There’s always one or two.”

The identity of the female United fan is still unknown and although her face remains blurred for legal reasons, Flex himself did come out on social media to ask people to “find this woman” in order for the club to identify her and the authorities to punish her accordingly.

Still taken aback by the racial slur, Flex simply goes on to describe the off-hand abuse as “crazy” before insisting that the moment will be staying the full edit so as not to let the incident go unnoticed.

Ever since the video was released, other Reds, football fans and content creators alike have been sharing their support online.

One person wrote, “It’s 2024 and we’re still seeing people saying racist things and they think they can get away with it. Hope Flex gets justice for this.”, while another tagged the club and added: “Can’t be having these type of fans enter the stadium.”

Flex has since responded online in a separate video, thanking people for their heartfelt messages, but despite assuring that he has a “thick skin”, he quite rightly went on to add that people of colour shouldn’t have to deal with that kind of intolerable behaviour and he is simply “tired”.

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Retired striker and former United coach Benni McCarthy also reached out online to offer some kind words, writing: “Hi mate, hope you [are] ok. That was absolutely unnecessary and you shouldn’t have to deal with such behaviour. Stay strong bro and behind you all the way.”

The club themselves are yet to issue a statement regarding the incident but with both current players and former staff responding, it likely won’t be long before the individual is identified and issued with a ban. United had to deal with similar incidents regarding racism and homophobia last season.

It goes without saying that we condemn discrimination in all its forms; our thoughts go out to Flex and everyone else affected by the incident and hope the incident is dealt with swiftly. The beautiful game is for everyone and there’s no room for racism in any walk of life. #KickItOut.

You can watch Flex’s full video addressing the situation, in which he urged people to “stay strong, keep fighting” and “stick together”, down below:

FlexUTD’s full response following the appalling racist incident on 4/11/2024.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — United We Stand (via YouTube)/FlexUTD (via X)

Crime

Tameside ambulance worker jailed after trying to murder her boss in a ‘frenzied hammer attack’

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

An ambulance worker has been jailed after attempting to murder her boss in an ‘unprovoked and frenzied hammer attack’.

After what had been described as a “prolonged row” over work shift patterns, Stacey Smith, from the Tameside area of Greater Manchester, turned up outside her boss’s house in Dukinfield at 5:30am on 11 November 2023 when she knew the victim would be getting ready to leave for work, and repeatedly hit the her boss over the head with a hammer causing serious head injuries and leaving her with a broken wrist in defence.

The 46-year-old screamed at the victim during the attack that she was going to kill her.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) called Smith’s attempted murder of her boss – whom she had worked with since 2017 – an “unprovoked and frenzied hammer attack filled with rage”.

A number of neighbours came out to help the victim following the attack, giving her first aid and ensuring that the hammer that Smith left behind was covered in a plastic bag ready to be forensically examined by Crime Scene Investigators.

Smith later sent text messages to a friend after the attack saying: “I’ve done it. I’ve smashed her head in. Oppsie xx!”.

While initially telling her friend that she would “go on the run” to Liverpool, Smith instead handed herself into Ashton Police Station, and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Following police interviews, Smith pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent, but denied attempting to kill her boss.

Following a hearing at Manchester Crown Court this week, Smith was charged with two counts of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place and attempted murder, and sentenced to a total of 25 years – including 20 years in prison – as well as receiving a whole-life restraining order banning her from contacting the victim.

Detective Constable Stephen McNee, GMP’s Tameside Criminal Investigation Department, described this as “a particularly violent attack”.

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Speaking after the sentencing this week, DC McNee said: “We are pleased with today’s result, which has seen a violent woman taken off the streets, and we hope that this goes some way to helping the victim to come to terms with what has happened to her and allows her to heal.”

Featured Image – GMP

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