TikTok influencer Mahek Bukhari and others face re-trial for A46 deaths after 'jury irregularity'

The trial of a Tik Tok influencer Mahek Bukhari and seven others accused of murder and manslaughter has been scrapped, and will take place with a new jury in 2023.

Reporting restrictions limit what can be said about the reasons behind the decision - which was described as "jury irregularity".

The eight defendants, who have been in custody since they were arrested in February and March of this year, are accused of plotting to ambush 21-year-olds Saqib Hussain and Hashim Ijazuddin.

The two friends died when their car crashed on the A46 in Leicestershire.

This morning at Leicester Crown Court, judge Mr Justice Saini issued a statement which he said could be reported by media.

The statement read: "The discharge was by reason of jury irregularity. The irregularity had nothing to do with any conduct or alleged conduct of the defendants or the families or friends of Saqib Hussain or Hashim Ijazuddin, but was purely internal to the jury.

"There will be a re-trial before a fresh jury in the new year."

The defendants are set to face the same charges of murder and manslaughter, which they all deny, when the re-trial begins.

The eight defendants are: Natasha Akhtar, 22, of Alum Rock Road, Birmingham, Mahek Bukhari, 23, and Ansreen Bukhari, 47, both of George Eardley Close, Tunstall, Raees Jamal, 22, of Lingdale Close, Loughborough, Rekan Karwan, 28, of Tomlin Road, Northfields, Leicester, Mohammed Patel, 20, of Braybrooke Road, Northfields, Leicester, Sanaf Gulammustafa, 22, of Littlemore Close, Crown Hills, Leicester, and Ameer Jamal, 27, of Catherine Street, Belgrave, Leicester.