Teenage Gang Convicted of Murder

27/01/2007

After an 8 week trial, a teenage gang has been found guilty by a jury today at the Bradford Crown Court sitting in Leeds, of the brutal murde of an Asian taxi driver.

Michael Hand, Graeme Slavin, Christopher Murphy, Stephen Uttley and two youths who cannot be named for legal reasons, were found guilty of the murder of Mohammed Parvaiz, an Asian taxi driver who was dragged from his vehicle and beaten to death by the gang of white teenagers at Field Head, Golcar in Huddersfield on 22 July last year. Michael Hand had earlier in the trial changed his plea to guilty. With the exception of one of the unnamed youths all the defendants had previously admitted an offence of violent disorder arising from the same incident. The unnamed youth was also convicted by the jury of this offence.

Richard Hebbert, Senior Crown Prosecutor with CPS West Yorkshire's Complex Casework Unit, who was dealing with the case said:

"This killing was aggravated by the use of racist abuse during the attack on Mr Parvaiz, against a background of trouble between white and Asian youths. But Mr Parvaiz wasn't killed simply because he was Asian. Going about his lawful business as a taxi driver he had the misfortune of 11 June 2006 to be present when damage was caused to a scooter belonging to Christopher Murphy. Unable or not bothered to find those actually involved, Murphy and his friends took their revenge on Mr Parvaiz - an easy, but innocent target.

"On 22 July they deliberately lured him to an isolated spot and beat him to death.

"It is to the credit of the West Yorkshire Police that the first of those responsible were caught within hours of Mr Parvaiz's death. Following further arrests and pre-charge advice from the CPS all six defendants were charged and before the court within a week. Their conviction within six months of the killing is due in no small part to the professionalism, commitment and hard work of those involved in every stage of this prosecution".