Rijaan Mohamed, born on October 10, 1997, has been sentenced to seven months in jail for Contempt of Court following an incident during the trial for the murder of Badri Issa at Manchester Crown Square Crown Court.
Over the past two weeks, the court has been presiding over the trial related to the murder of Badri Issa, which occurred on Moss Side Lane East on October 25, 2023. Defendants Raami Mohamed and Kevell Blake were recently found guilty of murder and manslaughter, respectively.
However, proceedings were disrupted on April 26 when Rijaan Mohamed, the brother of one of the defendants, dropped his phone from the balcony public gallery into the courtroom during a short adjournment. Upon retrieval, it was discovered that the phone had been recording for over an hour and a half. Further investigation revealed that Rijaan had been recording proceedings over several days during the trial.
Rijaan Mohamed pleaded guilty to contempt of court and appeared at Manchester Crown Court for sentencing on May 10.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Naismith, the Senior Investigating Officer for the murder of Badri Issa, expressed the challenges faced by the victim’s family throughout the trial, exacerbated by the conduct of certain individuals. Naismith emphasised the gravity of the situation, highlighting the loss of Badri Issa’s life and the immense suffering experienced by his loved ones.
Naismith condemned Rijaan Mohamed’s actions as unacceptable and underscored the seriousness with which such conduct is regarded both inside and outside the courtroom. The sentence handed down to Mohamed serves as a clear indication of the consequences for those who interfere with legal proceedings.
The trial’s conclusion marks a step toward justice for Badri Issa and his family, albeit amid the distress caused by the actions of individuals like Rijaan Mohamed.
