TWO people charged with the murder of a 50-year-old father-of-seven in a Burnley park are expected to face trial in September.
Mohammed Bhatti (20), of Holcombe Drive, Burnley, and a 16-year-old youth are accused of murdering Mohammed Raja Shafiq who had gone to the aid of his 18-year-old son before he was beaten and stabbed.
The pair are also accused of violent disorder
along with two other 19-year-old defendants, Mohammed Akhtar, of Scott Park Road,
and Omar Khalid, of Fairfield Drive, both Burnley.
The four appeared before Mr Justice David Clarke at Preston Crown Court yesterday and the case was adjourned until June 6th.
The trial date has been provisionally fixed for September 1st at
Manchester Crown Court. The three adults were all remanded in custody while the 16-year-old is in secure accommodation.
On Friday, thousands of mourners gathered to say an emotional goodbye to Mr Shafiq.
Hundreds of family and friends said a tearful farewell outside the family home in York Street, Nelson.
This was followed by a prayer service at the Ghausia Mosque, in Every Street, but it was unable to accommodate the 2,000 mourners and many being left to pray outside. The burial took place at Walton Lane Cemetery.
Mr Shafiq leaves two daughters Afshaa (30) and Zeenat (29) from his first marriage and his second wife Shagufta (38) and their five children Kawal (19), Umar (18), Komal (16), Usman (15) and Adil (15).
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