Seven jailed for helping murder suspect who fled

Seven people have been jailed for their roles in helping a man suspected of murder flee from the UK to Pakistan.

Police believe Akaash Rafiq was involved in the death of Mohammed Feazan Ayaz, who was fatally beaten and tortured at an industrial unit in Bradford in July 2019.

Mr Rafiq, who is still wanted, was later driven from West Yorkshire to London, where he then travelled by Eurostar to Paris before flying to Pakistan via the Middle East, according to police.

On Friday, five men and two women were jailed at Bradford Crown Court after having been convicted at a trial earlier this year of perverting the course of justice.

Safraz Ahmed, 36, of Brantwood Drive, was jailed for four years and nine months, while Hasan Ali, 30, of Thorn Lane, was sentenced to three-and-a-half years.

A jury heard in January how the pair had travelled with Mr Rafiq and another man following Mr Ayaz's murder, which took place in the Denholme area of the city.

Meanwhile, David Burnett, 43, of Clayton Avenue, was jailed for 20 months, and 38-year-old Rafaq Ali, of Kensington Street, was sentenced to 14 months in jail.

The court had been told they were both involved in deleting CCTV footage from cameras at the industrial unit where Mr Ayaz was killed.

Three further defendants were sentenced for going into the unit the next day and cleaning up blood, water and urine left at the crime scene.

Komal Kurshid, 32, of Athol Road, and 37-year-old mother-of-three Kaukab Khan, of Galsworthy Avenue, were given jail terms of 15 months and six months respectively.

Khan's partner, Iqrab Choudhury, 32, of Sandford Road, Bradford, was also sentenced to 12 months in jail for her role in the clean-up.

Judge Sophie McKone told the defendants that while none of them had played a part in the murder of Mr Ayaz, "in the aftermath you helped those who had murdered him".

Speaking after today's sentencing, Investigating Officer Det Supt Emma Winfield, from West Yorkshire Police, said: "Twelve people have now been convicted for their involvement in Feazan's murder.

"We have never given up getting justice for him and his family and remain committed to pursuing and detaining the outstanding suspect in the case."

In 2020, three men were convicted and jailed for Mr Ayaz's murder, while two other men were sentenced for assisting an offender.

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