Stab murder accused pair remanded

Mohammed Shafiq was stabbed

A 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy have been remanded in custody charged with the murder of a father-of-seven attacked in a Lancashire park.

Mohammed Raja Shafiq, 50, was trying to stop a fight when he was hit and stabbed in Thompson park, Burnley.

Mohammad Bilal Bhatti, of Holcombe Drive, Burnley, and a youth, who cannot be named because of his age, appeared before Burnley magistrates.

They are both charged with murder and violent disorder.

Mohammed Shahdab Akhtar, 19, of Scott Park Road, Burnley, and Omar Khalid, 19, of Fairfield Drive, Burnley, also appeared in court charged with violent disorder.

Phone call

All four were remanded in custody until 17 March.

Elizabeth Reed, prosecuting, said the victim suffered a fractured skull and a 6.7in (17cm) deep stab wound from a knife which caused "uncontrollable bleeding".

She explained that none of the weapons believed to have been used in the attack have yet been recovered.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating a phone call made by Mr Shafiq, who lived in Nelson, to police shortly before he was murdered.

Lancashire Police said the call and their response had caused them "some concern" and referred the matter to the IPCC.

A 17-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in connection with the attack has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.