Yousef Makki stabbing: Probe into police handling of death dropped

Yousef Makki was a scholarship pupil at Manchester Grammar School

A probe into Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) handling of a case involving the death of a 17-year-old boy has been dropped.

Manchester Grammar student Yousef Makki died in a fight with Joshua Molnar, now 18, in Hale Barns, Cheshire.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had discontinued its inquiry into the force's actions.

Mr Makki's family said they understood "there were some accepted failings with GMP's investigation".

IOPC regional director Amanda Rowe said it had found "no potential misconduct by any individual officer".

"We also assessed GMP's own review of its murder investigation and acknowledge a number of changes to its procedures will be implemented as a result of learning recommendations made," she said.

The IOPC had launched two investigations - one into GMP and a second involving Cheshire Police - earlier this year.

Both forces had referred themselves to the watchdog.

The IOPC said its investigation into the Cheshire force was continuing.

Joshua Molnar was referred to as Boy A during the trial at Manchester Crown Court

Scholarship pupil Mr Makki was stabbed by his friend, former public schoolboy Mr Molnar, during a fight in upmarket Hale Barns on 2 March last year.

Mr Molnar said it was self-defence and was acquitted of murder and manslaughter by a jury after a trial at Manchester Crown Court in July.

He admitted lying to police and possession of a knife and was given 16 months in custody, and was released in February this year.

• Family still hopes for retrial into fatal stabbing

• Fatal stabbing teen's early release 'crushing'

• Family's plea for full Yousef Makki inquest

Mr Makki's family said that during a meeting with the Crown Prosecution Service, GMP and Cheshire Police in January "our family came to understand there were some accepted failings with GMP's investigation".

"We look forward to a meeting with GMP to understand their findings and hopefully be reassured that lessons really have been learned."

The family said it remained "cautiously optimistic" the findings of the IOPC investigation regarding Cheshire Police "may provide us with some much-needed accountability from the authorities, at a time where our confidence feels like it has hit an all time low".

Assistant Chief Constable Mabs Hussain said: "It is important we conducted a thorough review of our investigation into the tragic circumstances surrounding Yousef's death, which the IOPC has recognised.

"This remains a difficult time for the Makki family and I hope this brings some reassurance of our commitment to reviewing our actions."