Ex-Manchester Councillor Cleared Of Threats To Kill Wife

5 July 2011, 12:12 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A jury's found an ex-Manchester councillor not guilting of threatening to kill his wife and her family.

Faraz Bhatti, 37, was cleared of two charges by a jury at Liverpool Crown Court.

It is understood that Mr Bhatti - a former Conservative councillor in Whalley Range ward - is considering legal action against the police.

Mr Bhatti, of Hawarden Avenue, Whalley Range, denied putting his wife, Mazamil Bashir, in fear of violence and assaulting her by beating.

A jury of five women and seven men cleared him of both charges after less than three hours of deliberations.

Ms Bashir, repeatedly broke down in tears as she earlier told a court how Mr Bhatti had allegedly abused her, threatened to kill her and threatened to burn her parents' house down.

Mr Bhatti, who began his career as a Liberal Democrat councillor before joining the Conservatives, did not stand for re-election this year as he was suspended by the Conservative Party following the allegations.

A spokesman for the Conservative Party said the issue of Mr Bhatti's membership would be looked at again in the light of his acquittal.