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Three convicted of racist murder | Three convicted of racist murder |
(10 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. | 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' | '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' | 'Devastating effect' |
Det Supt Tim Forber of West Yorkshire Police led the investigation into Mr Parvaiz's death. | 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. | He said: "Mohammad Parvaiz was a hardworking man, father-of-three and a loving husband. |
"His life ended because of a premeditated attack of mindless violence - this was pack mentality at its absolute worst. | "His life ended because of a premeditated attack of mindless violence - this was pack mentality at its absolute worst. |
"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." | "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. | A sentencing date has yet to be fixed. |
'Racist abuse' | |
After his death, about 3,000 taxi drivers staged a strike, demanding better security measures in their cabs. | |
Ch Supt Barry South, Divisional Commander for Kirklees said: "We understand that incidents such as this can cause tension within the community and the investigation team has worked tirelessly to bring to justice those responsible for Mohammad Parvaiz's murder." | |
He said every Kirklees taxi now had signs warning that abuse would not be tolerated and they were investigating installing CCTV cameras in taxis. | |
Richard Hebbert, of the Crown Prosecution Service West Yorkshire, 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." |