THE three attackers who struck their victim with bats and hacked his face with a machete will have to wait to learn their fate.
Usman Multani, his younger brother Kaasim and Shahenul Alam were convicted last week of grievous bodily harm with intent but cleared of attempted murder following the attack on Owais Saleem in Wyld's Lane, Worcester.
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They were found guilty by unanimous verdict last Thursday and were due to be sentenced the following day.
However, it is understood that the defendants face outstanding charges which have to be resolved before sentence can be passed.
The sentencing exercise has therefore been adjourned until a date to be fixed. All three were remanded in custody in the meantime.
The former law and university student was attacked in Wyld's Lane, Worcester on Sunday, November 24, 2019.
Usman Multani, 27, of Westminster Road, Ronkswood, Kaasim Multani, 23, also of Westminster Road and Shahenul Alam, 32, of Ivor Road, Sparkhill, had denied attempted murder, violent disorder and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.
Mr Saleem suffered a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain following the attack at around 1am outside the St John's Ambulance building in Wyld's Lane.
In the run up to the attack, there had been escalating tensions between two groups - the Multani group from Ronkswood that included Luke Bridger and a Zahid 'Ali' group.
During the trial the jury was also shown images taken of a gash to Mr Saleem's face near the eye and injuries to his hand and buttock.
Mr Saleem described how he had been with friends on the day of the attack when his attention was drawn to the sound of a revving of its engine.
Mr Saleem said he was at the back of a group of friends and had been 'dragging my feet'.
"Then I heard a car pull up behind me. I turned around slowly - I just thought it would be one of my friends. When I turned around I got hit immediately in the head" he said.
Mr Saleem said of the first blow struck: "I assumed it was a bat, a baseball bat. It felt like a bat."
The first blow landed on the left hand side of his head and he 'dropped immediately'. He was then surrounded by a group who stood around him in a circle.
He said he was on his back on the ground 'kind of curled up' with his hands 'protecting my head'.
During the attack Mr Saleem suffered a depressed skull fracture, a fracture to his cheekbone, a stab wound to the buttock, tendon damage and bone damage to his hand caused by a cut and air and blood in the brain. He was taken by car to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
He said: "I remember being surrounded. I don't know if they were nurses or medical staff - five to 10 of them around me. Then someone said 'we need something to wrap his face'. That's when I learned my face is practically hanging off."
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