This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/6301679.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Three convicted of racist murder | Three convicted of racist murder |
(20 minutes later) | |
Three white teenagers have been found guilty of the racially aggravated murder of an Asian taxi driver. | Three white teenagers have been found guilty of the racially aggravated murder of an Asian taxi driver. |
Father-of-three Mohammad Parvaiz, 41, was beaten to death by the teenagers near Huddersfield in July last year. | Father-of-three Mohammad Parvaiz, 41, was beaten to death by the teenagers near Huddersfield in July last year. |
Graeme Slavin and Christopher Murphy, both 18, and Steven Utley, aged 17, were found guilty at Leeds Crown Court. | Graeme Slavin and Christopher Murphy, both 18, and Steven Utley, aged 17, were found guilty at Leeds Crown Court. |
Michael Beeby, 16, and Jason Harris, 17, were found not guilty of murder and manslaughter. Michael Hand, 19, pleaded guilty to murder at an earlier hearing. | Michael Beeby, 16, and Jason Harris, 17, were found not guilty of murder and manslaughter. Michael Hand, 19, pleaded guilty to murder at an earlier hearing. |
Beeby was also found guilty of violent disorder, a charge which all the other defendants had previously pleaded guilty to. | |
The court heard that at the time of the killing Mr Parvaiz thought he was responding to a normal request for a fare. | The court heard that at the time of the killing Mr Parvaiz thought he was responding to a normal request for a fare. |
'Emotive and distressing' | |
But instead he was lured down a cul-de-sac in Field Head, Huddersfield, and set upon by the gang of teenagers. | But instead he was lured down a cul-de-sac in Field Head, Huddersfield, and set upon by the gang of teenagers. |
Judge Dame Heather Steel adjourned sentencing for reports but said Murphy and Hand would receive life sentences. | Judge Dame Heather Steel adjourned sentencing for reports but said Murphy and Hand would receive life sentences. |
She said Utley and Slavin would be "detained at Her Majesty's pleasure". | She said Utley and Slavin would be "detained at Her Majesty's pleasure". |
She described the case as "emotive and distressing" and thanked the jurors for their dedication. | She described the case as "emotive and distressing" and thanked the jurors for their dedication. |
She lifted the reporting restrictions after reading submissions from members of the media. | She lifted the reporting restrictions after reading submissions from members of the media. |
The judge said it was in the public interest for the names and identities of those involved in this "dreadful incident" to be revealed. | The judge said it was in the public interest for the names and identities of those involved in this "dreadful incident" to be revealed. |
After a six-week trial, the jury of six men and five women took nine hours to come to the verdicts. | After a six-week trial, the jury of six men and five women took nine hours to come to the verdicts. |
'Devastating effect' | |
Det Supt Tim Forber of West Yorkshire Police led the investigation into Mr Parvaiz's death. | |
He said: "Mohammad Parvaiz was a hardworking man, father-of-three and a loving husband. | |
"On the 22 July 2006, he went to work as normal but did not come home. | |
"His life ended because of a premeditated attack of mindless violence - this was pack mentality at its absolute worst. | |
"This dreadful crime shocked the community and many young witnesses came forward and assisted us with this investigation. | |
"I am grateful for their bravery and co-operation as without them, this trial would not have been possible. | |
"I hope that Mr Parvaiz's family can now take some comfort from today's result and start to move forward with the rest of their lives." | |
A sentencing date has yet to be fixed. |