Ammar Terbeche

Ammar Terbeche died after being found injured in Packer Street in Rochdale on 20 September 2020.

A 28-year-old man was tried twice for his manslaughter but the juries failed to reach a verdict and at the third trial the prosecution offered no evidence.

It was claimed that he had punched Ammar Terbeche on Packer Street outside Yates bar after which he had been hit by a taxi.

Ammar Terbeche was found unconscious in a car park next to Rochdale town hall at about 3.10am on Sunday 20 September 2020 and died soon after at the scene. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 3.55am.

His cause of death was given as multiple injuries to the chest and abdomen. Tyre marks were also found on his upper chest.

He was said to have been assaulted following an animated conversation with three men and left for dead in the road. After the attack the three men had walked off towards Rochdale Memorial Gardens. However, about 30 seconds later he was hit by a taxi van. The taxi stopped at the scene.

The 28-year-old man was later found hiding in the back of a lorry at Dover trying to escape to France. He told the port officials that he had paid £500 for the trip and that he was tired of England as they were not answering about his situation, referring to his immigration status and that he wanted to go to France. However, when his fingerprints were examined, it was found that he was wanted by the Greater Manchester Police. 

Ammar Terbeche had been born in Algeria and was said to have been well known in Rochdale's Muslim community, having moved there in 2017. He had volunteered at the Castlemere Community Centre and at the Central Mosque.

The argument was said to have gone on for about ten minutes, but had not involved violence until it was alleged that Ammar Terbeche turned his back to the man on trial who had then hit him in the back of the head with considerable force, causing him to fall to the floor. The prosecution stated that the fall had rendered Ammar Terbeche unconscious.

It was noted that whilst the argument had started on the pavement, it had migrated to the road by the time Ammar Terbeche was hit.

However, the defence said that it hadn't been the blow that had killed Ammar Terbeche, but the taxi, it being stated that the taxi had entered Packer Street about 20 seconds after Ammar Terbeche had been knocked down and had hit him ten seconds later, the impact causing Ammar Terbeche catastrophic and unsurvivable injuries.

The prosecution stated that the taxi driver was entirely blameless, noting that the police investigation stated that it had been entirely reasonable that he had not seen Ammar Terbeche lying in the street.

The prosecution stated further that there had been no justification in him hitting Ammar Terbeche and that Ammar Terbeche had posed no threat to him. The prosecution further added that the man walked away, even though it must had been apparent that Ammar Terbeche had suffered fatal injuries.

It was heard that the man and two of his friends, and a third man had gone into Rochdale town centre at 3am and that when they saw Ammar Terbeche, the man on trial shouted at him, 'Where are you from? If you want a fight, come'. They were then said to have sworn at each other in Arabic. The court heard that one of the men that had been with the group had said, 'stop, don't fight', but that the man on trial said words to the effect, 'the guy is crazy'.

Ammar Terbeche was said then to have run his hands down the man on trial's face which was stated as being a sign of disrespect in Arabic culture. The prosecution noted that the action was not a punch or a slap.

It was said then that Ammar Terbeche turned his back on the man and that when he did so, the man hit him in the back of his head.

When the man was arrested he told the police that Ammar Terbeche had been drunk, provocative, had used racist language and had threatened to stab him. He also said that Ammar Terbeche had slapped him.

He further stated that he had considered telling the police but decided not to because of his mental condition. It was also noted that since the incident he had cut off his ponytail, however, he said he had done that because it had brought him bad luck.

The man was first tried at Minshull Street Crown Court in June 2021, but the jury were unable to reach a verdict.

He was tried a second time in December 2021 but the jury were again unable to reach a verdict.

After the jury were unable to reach a verdict at the second trial they were discharged after which the Crown Prosecution Service said that it would not be appropriate in the circumstances to seek a further retrial.