Yorkshire youth faces trial delay over Facebook slur of Afghanistan soldiers

THE case of a West Yorkshire teenager accused of posting an offensive Facebook message about the deaths of six British soldiers in Afghanistan has been adjourned.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Jul 2012, 13:37 BST

Azhar Ahmed, 19, was due to go on trial today charged under the Communications Act 2003 with sending a message which was grossly offensive on March 8.

But a district judge at Huddersfield Magistrates’ Court told the packed courtroom she needed to adjourn the case for a month.

The six soldiers were killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Lashkar Gah on March 6 in the deadliest single attack on British forces in Afghanistan since 2001.

Sergeant Nigel Coupe, 33, of 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, was killed alongside Corporal Jake Hartley, 20, Private Anthony Frampton, 20, Private Christopher Kershaw, 19, Private Daniel Wade, 20, and Private Daniel Wilford, 21, all of 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment.

Ahmed, of Fir Avenue, Ravensthorpe, West Yorkshire, denies the charge.

He was given unconditional bail and will appear again on September 14.