'Savage' machete and knife trio jailed for nearly 30 years over daylight park attack

A smirking knifeman and two accomplices who unleashed a 'savage' machete and knife attack in a popular park have been jailed for a total of nearly 30 years. Three victims suffered a catalogue of injuries in the broad daylight horror.

Awais Butt, Adam Sidat - who smiled in his police mug shot - and Fida Butt went on the rampage at Palfrey Park in Walsall at around 4pm on May 1 last year. Police said Sidat shouted over to a man who was another group, who came over.

Sida, 20, said to the man: ‘You robbed something?’ before he pulled out a 15-inch long curved machete from a black case. Awais, 20, and Fida Butt, 18, also brandished knives. The victim was slashed in the head with the blades, West Midlands Police said.

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Two of the wounded man's friends were also slashed by the three defendants when they rushed to help him. The attackers fled the park and onto Queen Mary Street where their movements were captured on CCTV.

Officers secured footage of them running into Cobden Street where they were captured going into a communal car park. They three days later.

An identity parade took place and all three victims picked out Sidat as one of the attackers while Awais Butt was also picked out. Awais Butt and Adam Sidat pleaded not guilty to wounding and possession of a machete while Fida Butt had pleaded not guilty to wounding.

All three were convicted of the charges following a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court. Awais Butt and Sidat were both handed jail terms of 11 years while Fida Butt was jailed for six years following a hearing at the same court on Tuesday, April 9.

Speaking after the sentences were passed, Det Con Simon Pritchard, investigating officer at Walsall CID, said: “This was a savage attack carried out with a machete and knives. The brutal attack was launched in a park in broad daylight and the three victims suffered many injuries to their bodies. CCTV was crucial in identifying the three defendants involved.

“The sentences send out a clear message that carrying and using weapons including machetes and knives will not be tolerated in Walsall.”

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