In a violent confrontation on Lower Breck Road in Anfield, Liverpool, three brothers have been accused of engaging in a brawl with two workmen, armed with improvised weapons, following allegations of an attempted child abduction. The incident occurred on 22 October 2023, just one day after Neil McGovern reported to police that a man in a white van attempted to kidnap his daughter.
The three accused brothers—Neil (36), Alan (42), and Mark McGovern (38)—were reportedly armed with various weapons, including metal poles and a wooden bat. They are joined in the trial by Michael Lawal (46), who is also accused of participating in the attack. All four men deny the charges, claiming they acted in self-defence.
During the opening of the prosecution case at Liverpool Crown Court, prosecutor Ken Grant described the event as a "joint enterprise attack" against two men, Paimani Jalali and Salar Azizi. The dramatic scenes unfolded around 4pm when Merseyside Police were alerted to reports of "multiple offenders fighting with weapons."
Upon arriving at the scene, officers discovered Mr Jalali unconscious, suffering from severe injuries including lacerations to his face and a stab wound to the chest, alongside a bleed on the brain. Mr Azizi was found semi-conscious with visible wounds, further indicating the brutal nature of the confrontation. Officers noted weapons, including screwdrivers and wooden planks, scattered across the area where the incident took place.
Mr Jalali testified that he was driving his van when two men approached and attacked his vehicle, smashing the windscreen. Following this, he was assaulted by multiple individuals, recalling being hit over the head repeatedly and witnessing something metal, possibly a knife, before losing consciousness and waking up in an ambulance. His colleague, Mr Azizi, who received a phone call regarding the damage, stated he encountered armed men upon his arrival and was subsequently attacked, but could not remember the specifics of the incident.
Alan McGovern was apprehended at the scene, where he reportedly admitted to striking Mr Jalali because he believed he was involved in the kidnap attempt. He stated that he had stamped on Mr Jalali’s head out of anger after witnessing a disturbance outside his mother’s house. Neil McGovern echoed similar sentiments, claiming he joined the fray after seeing others fighting, expressing regret for his actions during police questioning.
Lawal explained in his prepared statement that he believed the two men renovating the nearby pub were responsible for the alleged abduction after seeing video footage of the incident. He recounted running into the street in a bid to prevent what he thought could escalate into something dangerous, but ended up being attacked himself.
The legal proceedings continue, with each defendant facing serious charges, including wounding with intent and possession of offensive weapons. The ongoing trial is expected to last approximately a week, as the court seeks to clarify the events of that day and the motivations behind the violent confrontation.
Source: Noah Wire Services