Inquest into Yousef Makki death could be delayed until next year

An inquest into the death of a school boy stabbed in the heart in Hale Barns could be delayed until June next year, a hearing has been told.

Yousef Makki, 17, a scholarship boy at Manchester Grammar School, was knifed in the heart by his friend, former public schoolboy Joshua Molnar, aged 17 at the time, during a fight in upmarket Hale Barns on March 2 2019.

Molnar, from a wealthy Cheshire family, admitted possession of a knife and perverting the course of justice by initially lying to police about what had happened, but claimed self-defence and was acquitted of murder and manslaughter by a jury.

The inquest into Yousef's death was delayed due to the trial and also after it later emerged Molnar was facing criminal charges over handling an iPhone stolen in a violent robbery weeks before Yousef's death, though Molnar was not involved in the mugging.

Cheshire Police referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over the case and their final report has this week been completed.

A second report, described as a "review report" by Greater Manchester Police, has also to be considered.

At a pre-inquest hearing at Stockport Coroner's Court on Friday, senior coroner for south Manchester Alison Mutch was told by lawyers representing Molnar, the police and others that they needed time to respond to the IOPC report.

Ms Mutch set a date for a further pre-inquest hearing in October, ahead of the full inquest, but also asked lawyers to check their availability should the full inquest not go ahead on November 8.

The next available dates would be in June 2022.

Ms Mutch added: "My absolute focus is this inquest happens this year, I'm just trying to look at the worst case scenario."

Alex Leach QC, representing Molnar, questioned the "scope" of the inquest evidence to be heard.

He said: "At the moment we are a little unclear as to how wide the ambit of the hearing will be."

Ms Mutch said the inquest would not be a "rehash" of the criminal trial.

Lawyers for Yousef Makki have previously said despite the trial of Molnar, and a second defendant, Adam Chaudhry, cleared of perverting the course of justice but convicted of possession of a knife, some matters presented to the jury were done on a "false premise".

A further pre-inquest hearing will be held on October 15.