Ibraheem Anwar, a 23-year-old university student, has pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder a 14-year-old boy whom he allegedly drove over with his Audi A4 during an altercation. Anwar, an accountancy and finance student, is currently facing trial at Manchester Crown Court, where he admitted to dangerous driving but denied the more serious charges.
The incident in question occurred on July 13 of the previous year on Heald Place in Rusholme. Emergency services were summoned to the scene shortly after 7:40 pm when the 14-year-old victim was found seriously injured and subsequently placed in intensive care. Anwar, along with two friends, was reported to have been present at the scene before driving away. He surrendered to the police the following day.
During his testimony, Anwar stated that he and his friends were on their way to grab food on the Curry Mile when the events unfolded. He explained that when he parked his car and one of his friends began smoking cannabis, the 14-year-old approached and offered to sell them cannabis. Anwar claimed that his friend declined the offer, after which the teenager requested the passenger’s phone to enter his contact information. However, according to Anwar, when his friend handed over his phone, the 14-year-old and his companion fled with the device.
Anwar told the court that he saw what appeared to be a “knife outline” in the 14-year-old’s waistband. He alleged that his passenger urged him to “stop him” and “block him” as the teenager began running away. Anwar proceeded to drive away, and approximately a minute later, he encountered the 14-year-old again. CCTV footage presented in court showed Anwar mounting the curb as the boy ran.
The prosecution asserted that Anwar drove directly at the boy, a claim that Anwar vehemently denied. The teenager ended up beneath Anwar’s Audi, and Anwar maintained that he did not know of the boy’s presence under the vehicle. He emphasized that he had “no intention of harming him” and that he acted out of panic.
The 14-year-old suffered serious injuries and spent 12 days in the hospital before being discharged. During his treatment, police discovered what they referred to as a ‘machete’ and ‘four blocks of cannabis’ on the teenager’s person.
Following the incident, Anwar drove to Wythenshawe and spent the night in his car before turning himself into the police the next day. In his arrest, he expressed deep remorse for his actions.
Ibraheem Anwar, residing in Lytham Road, Flixton, Trafford, has denied both the charge of attempted murder and an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The trial is ongoing, and jurors have been informed of his guilty plea to dangerous driving.
