Five youths plead guilty to violent offences against rival gang

14/12/2011

At Maidstone Crown Court today the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) accepted guilty pleas from five Afghani youths accused of violent offences against a rival group of Afghani youths in Folkestone earlier this year.

Portia Ragnauth, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the South East said:

"The proceedings in Court were reviewed on a daily basis and after full consultation with all parties concerned, we have decided to accept the defendants offer of guilty pleas in this case, including a plea to manslaughter in relation to the death of Osman Sherzad and guilty pleas to affray.

"A major consideration when accepting these pleas was the strength of evidence,  the serious nature of the defendants' behaviour and whether, if we accepted the offers, the judge would have sufficient powers to sentence the defendants in accordance with the serious nature of the offending. We are satisfied this is the case."

The violent confrontation took place between two rival groups of young Afghans in a flat in Folkestone in January 2011. It lasted just a number of minutes and some were injured, but Osman Sherzad was fatally stabbed.

Farid Hussani, 18, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to five years imprisonment;
Fazullaq Walizada, 18, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment;
Eraj Faqirzada, 18, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment;

Two 17 year old youths pleaded guilty to affray: one received an absolute discharge and the other was sentenced to 8 months imprisonment.

The Crown has offered no evidence against Parwiz Rahimi, 18, who was charged with violent disorder and there is one remaining defendant on which a decision has yet to be made.

Portia Ragnauth continued:

"It is clear that Farid Hussani inflicted the fatal stab wound and that at least five of the defendants were involved in an aggressive attack. In taking these decisions I am satisfied that the aggravating features of this case could still be put before the court and taken into consideration."