Three cleared of killing IT worker

Three men were today cleared of killing an IT worker who was stabbed to death during race riots in 2005.

Waqar Ahmed, 29, Azhil Khan, 26, and Afzal Khan, 26, were all cleared of the murder and manslaughter of Isaiah Young-Sam following a re-trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

The acquittal of the defendants, who were also found not guilty of wounding with intent, follows two previous trials which ended with convictions and then a hung jury.

The original convictions of the defendants, who are all from the Handsworth area, were quashed in December 2008 after a judge ruled that evidence had been wrongly used at their first trial.

All three men denied the murder of Mr Young-Sam, during disturbances in the Lozells area of Birmingham in October 2005.

The riots broke out following unsubstantiated rumours that a 14-year-old black girl had been raped at a hair salon in the Perry Barr area.

Mr Young-Sam, a 23-year-old who worked for Birmingham City Council, had been on his way home when he was attacked by a mob of armed men.

Following today's acquittals, which were greeted with shouts of protest from some of those in the public gallery, relatives of those cleared were asked to remain in court for several minutes.