Man jailed after recording murder trial on phone

A man has been jailed after he was discovered recording his brother's murder trial on his mobile phone.

Rijaan Mohamed, of Fairy Lane, Salford, has been sentenced to seven months in jail for contempt of court.

The 27-year-old had dropped his phone from the public gallery at Manchester Crown Court, where his brother was one of two men on trial for the murder of Badri Issa, on 26 April.

The phone had been recording for over 90 minutes.

Further analysis of the phone showed it had been recording over several days of the trial, Greater Manchester Police said.

Under the Contempt of Court Act 1981, it is an offence to use any recording device in court, and to publish any recording made during court proceedings.

A judge can issue a fine or imprison someone found guilty of contempt.

Det Ch Insp Andy Naismith said Mohamed's actions were "unacceptable".

He said: "This has been an extremely difficult trial for the family of Badri Issa, made more challenging through the conduct of certain individuals.

"I hope [the sentence] demonstrates how seriously we take the conduct of defendants' families inside and outside of the courtroom.”

Mr Issa, 22, died after he was stabbed on Moss Side Lane East on 25 October.

Raami Mohamed, 21, of Fairy Lane, Salford, has been found guilty of murder and Kevell Blake, 20, of Bronshill Drive has been found guilty of manslaughter.

The pair will be sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on 7 June.

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