Man guilty of Blackburn murder

A man has been found guilty of murdering a man in his own flat in Blackburn in June 2023.

Mohammed Khan, 35 from Blackburn, murdered 50-year-old David Read at his flat on Leamington Road, Blackburn between 6 and 7 June.

Khan was captured on CCTV entering Mr Read's flat at 9.40pm on 6 June, leaving and re-entering on several occasions in the early hours, before leaving for the final time at 9am on 7 June wearing different clothing and carrying bags.

He proceeded to discard items from the bags at various locations.

Mr Read was found by a family member who attended his home on 7 June. Paramedics attended but were unable to resuscitate him.

A postmortem revealed that Mr Read had over 100 injuries all over his body consistent with him being struck multiple times with a hammer and scissors and having been punched and kicked.

A pair of scissors was found at Mr Read's flat which had Khan's DNA on it. A claw hammer, Mr Read's phone and a jacket Khan had been wearing the previous night were found at the locations where Khan had discarded items.

Today following a trial at Session House Crown Court he has been found guilty of his murder.

Alex Williams, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: "Mohammed Khan subjected David Read to a prolonged and brutal attack in his own home.

"It was the prosecution case that Khan had not acted in self-defence as he claimed, but he had intended to kill Mr Read when he used weapons, plus his fists and feet to inflict in excess of a hundred injuries.

"Today after considering the evidence we presented during the trial, including extensive CCTV, the jury have found him guilty of his murder.

"Our thoughts remain with Mr Read's family at this difficult time. We hope that Khan's conviction today brings some measure of comfort to them."