Five Birmingham men who are serving jail terms of up to 24 years after conspiring to kill Mohammed Asfar have had their appeal case rejected by top judges.
In June 2010 Mr Asfar, 63, Stoke, was attacked in his car outside his home. A car pulled up and two men got out, one of them shooting him in the leg, which left him needing operations. In the weeks leading up to this incident, Mr Asfar had received threats suggesting death or violence. Five men were convicted of conspiring to kill.
Their barrister argued that no jury could properly have found the men guilty of planning to murder, and said that the judge should have stopped the trial on that count and only allowed the consideration of a charge of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.
Lady Justice Hallett told the Court of Appeal that the judge at the trial was correct to reject this application.
Please click here to read the full story as reported in the Birmingham Mail
Please click here to view the profile for David Howker QC, prosecuting.
