UPDATE: |”I know exactly what happened”: Alleged victim in Rochdale sex abuse trial denies drink and drugs affected her memory News

Girl A was giving evidence at the trial for a second time

An alleged victim in the Rochdale sex abuse trial denied that her consumption of drink and drugs had affected her memory.

Girl A was giving evidence at the trial for a second time, after being recalled to the witness box. Seven men are on trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, accused of a series of sexual offences allegedly committed against her and another girl in the town between 2001 and 2006.

The alleged victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are being identified as Girl A and Girl B. Jurors have heard the accused were mainly either taxi drivers or market stall traders in the town. The girls were ‘passed around’ for sex before being ‘discarded’, it is alleged.

Mohammed Zahid, 64; Kasir Bashir, 50; Mushtaq Ahmed, 66; Roheez Khan, 39; Mohammed Shahzad, 43; Nisar Hussain, 43; and Naheem Akram, 48, deny all the charges they face. Mr Zahid, Mr Khan, Mr Shahzad, Mr Akram and Mr Hussain face allegations of rape in respect of Girl A.

The judge previously granted Mr Akram’s barrister permission to question Girl A again, after his lawyer in the case was replaced. Under cross-examination from Mr Akram’s new barrister, Ahmed Hossain KC, Girl A confirmed that she alleges that Mr Akram, also said to be known by the nickname ‘Lala’, was present when she was filmed while being sexually abused. She also confirmed that she claims he had sex with her about seven or eight times when she was a underage.

“What I suggest is that the man that you named as Lala Akram never had any contact with you, sexual or otherwise,” Mr Hossain claimed. “He did,” Girl A replied.

He claimed that Mr Akram was not present when the video clip was filmed, which Girl A disagreed with. Mr Hossain asked Girl A about the incident,in which she was filmed being sexually abused. Prosecutors have claimed that she was told the video would be circulated unless she had sex with Mr Akram and Mr Shahzad, but that the video emerged later anyway.

Girl A told jurors that she had taken an ecstasy pill prior to the incident, allegedly given to her by Mr Shahzad, and that she had also drunk alcohol. Mr Hossain asked her: “Is the reality that because of drugs, because of drink, and because of time and perhaps because of wanting to know about what happened in that car, that you don’t actually remember what happened?”

“I know exactly what happened,” she replied. The KC continued: “Given what you had consumed and given what effect that had on you, it is, I’m going to suggest, understandable if you don’t know what happened.”

Girl A replied: “I know what happened, I just don’t know the whole detail of everything.”

Jurors have heard that Girl A identified Mr Akram in a police identity parade in 2017. Mr Hossain said: “What I suggest is that you have got that wrong, because Lala Akram, Naheem Akram, has never had any contact with you whatsoever has he?” Girl A replied: “That’s ludicrous.”

After her evidence concluded, prosecutor Rossano Scamardella KC told jurors that the Crown was no longer pursuing charges of conspiracy to commit indecency with a child and conspiracy to cause a child to engage in penetrative sexual activity against Mr Shahzad, Mr Akram and Mr Hussain.

The KC told jurors: “The behaviour that is reflected in these counts is in fact reflected in other counts, so we no longer need to have conspiracy counts on the indictment.” He then closed the prosecution case, which first began in late January.

• Mohammed Zahid, 64, of Station Road, Crumpsall, Manchester, is charged with 10 counts of rape; four counts of indecency with a child; and six counts of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse
• Kasir Bashir, 50, of Napier Street East, Oldham, is charged with two counts of rape; and two counts of indecency with a child.
• Mushtaq Ahmed, 66, of Corona Avenue, Oldham, is charged with four counts of rape; four counts of indecency with a child; and a single count of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse
• Roheez Khan, 39, of Athole Street, Rochdale, is charged with a single count of rape
• Mohammed Shahzad, 43, of Beswicke Royds Street, Rochdale, is charged with eight counts of rape; indecency with a child; indecent assault; and assault by penetration
• Nisar Hussain, 43, of Newfield Close, Rochdale, is charged with four counts of rape; indecent assault; and assault by penetration
• Naheem Akram, 48, of Manley Road, Rochdale, is charged with 11 counts of rape; indecency with a child; indecent assault; and assault by penetration

Proceeding.