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Three convicted of racist murder | Three convicted of racist murder |
(about 1 hour 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 youths 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. |
Set upon | |
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. |
Murphy, of no fixed address; Beeby, of Sigott Street, Longwood; Utley, of Elmfield Avenue, Golcar; Harris, of Royals Head Lane, Longwood; and Slavin, of Howard Road, Lindley, sat in the dock, some with their heads bowed. | |
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. |
The teenagers will be sentenced at a later date | |
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. |
'Mindless violence' | |
Det Supt Tim Forber, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "Mohammad Parvaiz was a hard working 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. |
Mr Parvaiz showed no signs of offensive or defensive injuries, indicating that he was not capable of defending himself as he was being struck, the court heard. | |
He suffered 23 separate injuries, including a three-inch fracture along the base of his skull, a fractured cheekbone and fractured ribs. | |
It was alleged that £80 in takings was stolen, along with Mr Parvaiz's watch. | |
After his death, about 3,000 taxi drivers staged a strike, demanding better security measures in their cabs. | After his death, about 3,000 taxi drivers staged a strike, demanding better security measures in their cabs. |
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. | 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." | "But Mr Parvaiz wasn't killed simply because he was Asian." |