Man who attacked people with a machete at a mosque deemed ‘unfit to plead’

Image courtesy: Asian Image

A judge at Bradford Crown Court ruled that a man charged with attempted murder is ‘unfit to plead’ last week.

The man, Fezan Hussain, 27, was charged after being caught during Eid prayers at a Bradford mosque after an alleged machete attack earlier this year.

Hussain, who is from Radfield Road, Wyke, Bradford, is currently remanded in custody at HMP Leeds. However, according to reports, it is possible that he will be moved to a hospital unit after the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Richard Mansell KC, made his ruling after reading two psychiatric reports on the defendant.

During a hearing at the Court, Hussain, who appeared via a prison video link, was not asked to enter his pleas to charges against him of attempted murder and possession of a machete in a public place.

He was charged with the aforementioned offences and committed to the crown court by magistrates following the incident at the Madni Masjid Islamic Centre on Newton Street on the morning of May 2, when several people had gathered for Eid prayers.

Reports state that he had hidden the machete in his traditional dress, before drawing it and stabbing a young man in his twenties several times in the chest.

The victim is said to have survived the gruesome attack.

According to the judge’s ruling, Hussain will now face a ‘finding of fact’ trial before a jury on October 24. The CCTV footage of the attack is expected to be shown to the panel who will decide whether he will be convicted for the alleged attack or not.