Jurors told to "put emotion aside" in trial of Manchester Arena bomber's brother

The judge in the case of Manchester Arena bomb plot suspect Hashem Abedi has told jurors to put emotion to one side as they prepare to retire and consider their verdicts.

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker urged the 12 members of the jury to deliberate over the evidence "with dispassion and objectivity", putting aside any "sympathy for the family and friends" of the victims and survivors.

Abedi has been on trial at the Old Bailey for the last six weeks, accused of the murder, attempted murder and conspiring with his brother, Salman Abedi, to cause explosions.

It was Salman, 22, who set off a suicide bomb as thousands of men, women and children left an Ariana Grande pop concert at Manchester Arena on May 22 2017.

Prosecutors said the Manchester-born brothers "stood shoulder to shoulder" in the alleged plot, with the younger sibling "just as guilty of murder" as the bomber himself.

Addressing jurors as he began his summing up on Friday, the judge said: "The death of anyone is obviously a sad event, so too is the suffering of serious injury - the more so when the death and injury takes place prematurely in circumstances such as these.

"It would be surprising therefore if you were not exercised to some extent with sympathy for the family and friends both of the deceased and the injured in this case.

"However, as I am sure you will appreciate, emotions are likely to obscure rather than clarify one's ability to discern the truth, which is your task in this case.

"Therefore, for the purposes of the exercise which you will be performing when you deliberate upon the evidence next week, it is important for you to put any such feelings to one side for the time being and to undertake your task with dispassion and objectivity."

Abedi was not present in court on Friday, having sacked his legal team, refusing to give evidence, and withdrawing from the court process.

The brothers allegedly duped friends and associates into helping to buy components of the homemade explosive TATP.

They are alleged to have ordered, stockpiled and transported the components, plus several kilos of screws and nails to maximise carnage, aided by a variety of different addresses and vehicles at their disposal.

Abedi, now also 22, denies 22 counts of murder, one count of attempted murder encompassing the injured survivors, and conspiring with his brother to cause explosions.

The judge will continue his summing up on Monday morning