I love this country, doctor tells terror trial

A HIGH-FLYING NHS doctor yesterday denied conspiring to kill hundreds of people in a terrorist car-bombing campaign.

Mohammed Asha, 28, accused of involvement in the 2007 attack on Glasgow Airport, said he loved Britain and the health service, and was committed to his medical training.

Speaking in his defence for the first time, Asha said nothing would make him jeopardise his wife and son.

Woolwich Crown Court in London heard the neurologist describe his background in Jordan, his family life, love of poetry and top-flight education.

Asha's barrister, Stephen Kamlish, QC, asked him: "Are you one of the conspirators in this plot?"

Asha, who has sat in the dock throughout the six-week trial silently taking notes, replied loudly: "No."

Later he said: "I would never jeopardise my family or my wife for anything in the world."

The court heard Asha dreamed of studying surgery at Oxford or Cambridge after completing a six-year medical degree at the University of Jordan.

At the time of his arrest in July 2007, Asha was a highly respected member of staff in the neurology ward at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, the court was told. Asha said: "I already had the blueprint of my future before I came here, but in my experience here I really accepted the greatness of the health system in this country.

"I know people have complaints about the NHS but it is a great system.

"I love the country here, I love the way people treat each other here, especially medical training.

"It is not a criticism, but learning by humiliation in Jordan is one of the standard ways in schools of medicine and it is very competitive and very difficult sometimes. Here, respect is the rule."

Before he spoke, Mr Kamlish warned the jury his client would "fight for his life" in the witness box. He said: "This is the man you are trying; he is a pacifist, he is a decent man and he is a man dedicated in an extreme way.

"There is the irony: Bilal Abdulla, an extremist, describes Mohammed Asha's dedication to medicine as extreme, and that is why he is not guilty."

Mr Kamlish described the prosecution case as "pure speculation" and said there was no evidence of his guilt.

Asha and Abdulla are accused of conspiracy to murder and to cause explosions. They deny the offences.

The case continues on Monday.