 |
| Feroz Khan, who killed Skander Rehman because he believed, wrongly, he was having an affair with his wife |
A 20-year-old gunman who shot dead a "thoroughly decent young man" out of misplaced sexual jealousy has been told he faces spending the rest of his life behind bars.
Feroz Khan blasted Skander Rehman in the back of the head at point blank range after luring him to a Bradford park because he wrongly believed his victim had been having an affair with his wife.
But Leeds Crown Court heard 20-year-old university student Skander had rejected the girl's advances out of decency and loyalty to Khan.
Sentencing Khan to detention for life, Judge James Stewart, QC, told him: "This was a planned offence, a cold-blooded execution of a young man who had his whole life in front of him, for no other reason than you wrongly thought he had disrespected and been disloyal to you. Your behaviour has sent shock waves through your community. In my judgement you are a highly dangerous young man who has access to guns."
Judge Stewart said Khan, of Cumberland Road, Lidget Green, Bradford, would have to serve a minimum of 20 years in custody before he could be considered for parole.
But he told him: "You will then be assessed and only thereafter be released when and if the Parole Board decide you no longer present a danger to the public "In your case, because of the nature of the crime this may never be"
Mr Rehman, of Girlington, died in hospital two days after he was shot in Brackenhill Park, Great Horton, on February 26 this year.
 |
| Skander Rehman |
The murder weapon, a 9mm semi-automatic pistol which had been converted to fire live ammunition, has never been found.
Prosecutor Rodney Jameson, QC, said Khan was an acquaintance of Mr Rehman but had used Skander's friend, Toqueer Ahmed, to lure him to a meeting at the park.
Mr Jameson said it was a planned execution and the motive appeared to be Khan's belief that Skander had been having an affair with his wife.
But the prosecutor said: "His belief was entirely wrong. Khan's wife made it plain she had had another sexual partner, but it wasn't Skander Rehman.
"She had asked Skander Rehman if he would consider having a relationship with her and he had declined."
After the shooting Khan showed the murder weapon to a friend and said he had "taken his chance" to shoot Mr Rehman in the head. He later went to see his wife and told her: "I have shot someone today. I did it for you."
He gave himself up to police four days after the shooting. In a statement he claimed Mr Rehman was a "sex pest" who had stalked his wife.
But Mr Jameson said: "Mr Rehman had a natural, normal healthy interest in girls, but he was not a sex pest and had not stalked Khan's wife."
Khan, who was 19 at the time of the offence, pleaded guilty to murder before his trial was due to start in October. Toqueer Ahmed pleaded not guilty to murder and was cleared by a jury.
Graham Hyland, mitigating, said Khan, who was of previous good character, had only decided to shoot Mr Rehman on the day it happened and had had the courage to plead guilty. He came from a decent family and his father was a hard-working man with a DIY shop in Bradford market. Khan still had a wife and a child who is three next month.
Judge Stewart told Khan: "You took him under false pretences to a secluded part of the park where you pulled out a gun and shot him at point blank range in the back of the head. You then fled the park, leaving Skander Rehman alive but mortally wounded.
"Your belief was that Skander Rehman had had an affair with your wife, when he had done no such thing. He had been asked by your wife for an affair but, out of decency and loyalty to you, he refused.
"Skander Rehman was part of a caring family who now have to come to terms with the murder of their son and brother, which in all probability they will never be able to do."
After the case, Skander's mother, Samina Rehman, said: "I am glad he has got 20 years because he took my son's 20 years from me, but he should have got more.
"It makes it harder that there was no reason for him doing this. I hate him from the bottom of my heart. I hope he never gets out."
Superintendent Dave Oldroyd, who led the investigation, said the murder was a "tragic and totally unnecessary waste of life."
Supt Oldroyd said: "Skander was a completely innocent party and did not deserve what happened to him in any way.
"I would like to thank the local community for the support and assistance they have given to the police during this investigation as I feel that it helped to bring about a swift resolution.
"Thankfully gun crime of this nature is rare in West Yorkshire. The sentence Khan has received should stand as a clear warning to people who are prepared to use firearms."
Detective Inspector Paul Harrison said the motive of jealousy and vengeance had shocked the inquiry team and said the offence was despicable.
He added: "Every person who came into contact with Skander immediately took a liking to him."
Frontline Punjabi Youth
This shows how Pakistani crime gangs have a zero tolerance policy and are ready to kill even their own friends for a minor misunderstanding. What chance do us "kaffirs" have not to be on the recieving ends of their fury!
