Grieving father angry at affray conviction for girl’s attackers

THE father of a student whose death caused a diplomatic row with Egypt has voiced disbelief that the six teenagers arrested over her attack have only been convicted of affray.

Mohamed Moustafa is also angry that he was not informed about a court hearing in which three of his daughter’s attackers admitted their part in the violent assault.

Mariam Moustafa, 18, was punched and dragged for 20m (66ft) by a group of girls in Nottingham last February. The attack continued on a bus. She died after 12 days in a coma, having initially been discharged from hospital.

The incident, on April 16, sparked outrage in Egypt, where the prosecutor-general is said to have requested information on the British inquiry.

Three teenagers admitted affray last year, but three more denied it and were due to stand trial last week. However, Mariah Fraser, 19, Britania Hunter, 18, and a 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named, also admitted their part.

Mr Moustafa, 51, of Nottingham, said there was “strong evidence” for more serious charges and that the “minor” charge was “unfair and unjust”. That he was not informed of last week’s hearing was “another failure in the case of our daughter”, he said.

A CPS spokesman said: “We have worked closely with the police to make sure Mr Moustafa has been kept updated ... and are deeply sorry this didn’t happen on this occasion. We have contacted him to offer a full explanation.”

The teenagers will be sentenced at a later date.