Makki murder accused mental checks

3 April 2019, 14:14

A 17-year-old boy accused of murdering grammar school pupil Yousef Makki in a knife attack must undergo medical checks on his mental health as part of his bail conditions, a court heard.

The victim, also aged 17, who dreamed of becoming a heart surgeon, was stabbed to death on March 2, in Hale Barns, a leafy village south of Manchester popular with top footballers and celebrities.

His alleged killer, who cannot be identified as he is aged under 18, was granted bail five days later.

Unusually the bail hearing was held in private by Judge David Stockdale QC, Recorder of Manchester, from which members of the press were excluded.

On Wednesday media groups sought a further hearing at the same court to allow them to be able to report the bail conditions.

Ben Gallop, representing the Press Association, Daily Mail, The Times, The Sun and the Manchester Evening News, made submissions on their behalf at Manchester Crown Court.

Judge Stockdale released the bail conditions for the accused.

They are that the defendant must live and sleep each night at a specified address, which has not been made public, observe an electronically monitored curfew between 6pm and 8am, not to contact any witnesses or co-defendant, not to apply for international travel documents, to surrender his passport and be supervised by his local Youth Offending Team.

He must also not enter Greater Manchester except to attend court or see his legal team or engage in any social media in relation to the case.

Also as a mandatory condition of bail for those accused of murder, he must undergo examination by two doctors to determine his mental condition for the preparation of reports.

He was not present at the hearing on Wednesday and will next be in court on April 29 for a pre-trial hearing.