Don't miss a thing by getting the latest from the Manchester Evening News sent direct to your inbox Manchester Arena plotter Hashem Abedi has denied assaulting a prison officer, telling a court: “I did assault that filthy pig, but I don’t see any harm in doing that.” Abedi, who conspired with his brother Salman over the 2017 atrocity, entered a not guilty plea to assaulting Belmarsh prison officer Paul Edwards.
He also denied a charge of assaulting a second member of staff named Nick Barnett, during a 15-minute hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Abedi, appearing via video link from HMP Frankland in County Durham on his 24th birthday, was making his first public appearance in more than a year since refusing to attend the final weeks
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