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| Life sentence for boast murderer | Life sentence for boast murderer |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A man who boasted he was "cool" after stabbing a man who was protecting his son has been jailed for life. | A man who boasted he was "cool" after stabbing a man who was protecting his son has been jailed for life. |
| Bilal Bhatti, 21, plunged a hunting knife into the chest of Mohammed Shafiq, 50, at Thompson Park in Burnley, Manchester Crown Court heard. | Bilal Bhatti, 21, plunged a hunting knife into the chest of Mohammed Shafiq, 50, at Thompson Park in Burnley, Manchester Crown Court heard. |
| Mr Shafiq was trying to stop a fight between his son, Umar, 18, and Shahdab Akhtar, 19, but was stabbed. | Mr Shafiq was trying to stop a fight between his son, Umar, 18, and Shahdab Akhtar, 19, but was stabbed. |
| Bhatti pleaded guilty to murder at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years jail before parole. | Bhatti pleaded guilty to murder at an earlier hearing and was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years jail before parole. |
| Shazad Akhtar, 17, was sentenced to six years for manslaughter, his elder brother Shahdab Akhtar was given six years for violent disorder and a separate assault and Omar Khalid, 19, three years for violent disorder. | Shazad Akhtar, 17, was sentenced to six years for manslaughter, his elder brother Shahdab Akhtar was given six years for violent disorder and a separate assault and Omar Khalid, 19, three years for violent disorder. |
| Your boast is the most shocking remark and one of the most deplorable ever recorded in a criminal court Mr Justice Richard Henriques QC | Your boast is the most shocking remark and one of the most deplorable ever recorded in a criminal court Mr Justice Richard Henriques QC |
| The court heard that Mr Shafiq's son was involved in a long-running dispute with Shahdab Akhtar, and that six months earlier he had gone to police and reported him over an alleged assault. | |
| Mr Shafiq had learned about the fight and had rung police on a non-emergency number and left a message expressing his concerns. But the message was not picked up until "much later". | Mr Shafiq had learned about the fight and had rung police on a non-emergency number and left a message expressing his concerns. But the message was not picked up until "much later". |
| The court was told he had then set off to meet his son at the park to try to resolve the "ongoing problem" without resorting to a fight. | The court was told he had then set off to meet his son at the park to try to resolve the "ongoing problem" without resorting to a fight. |
| When Mr Shafiq got to the park, Akhtar's brother, Shazad, hit him over the head with an iron bar, wielding it with both hands like a baseball bat, the court heard. | When Mr Shafiq got to the park, Akhtar's brother, Shazad, hit him over the head with an iron bar, wielding it with both hands like a baseball bat, the court heard. |
| Mohammed Raja Shafiq went to the park to protect his son, the court heard | |
| It fractured Mr Shafiq's skull, then Bhatti stabbed the defenceless victim with the knife. | It fractured Mr Shafiq's skull, then Bhatti stabbed the defenceless victim with the knife. |
| He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. | He was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. |
| Moments after the stabbing, Bhatti told friends: "I've just stabbed someone, aren't I cool." | Moments after the stabbing, Bhatti told friends: "I've just stabbed someone, aren't I cool." |
| Passing sentence, Mr Justice Richard Henriques QC said: "Your boast is the most shocking remark and one of the most deplorable ever recorded in a criminal court. | Passing sentence, Mr Justice Richard Henriques QC said: "Your boast is the most shocking remark and one of the most deplorable ever recorded in a criminal court. |
| "It demonstrates you enjoy violence and you are proud of your conduct. | "It demonstrates you enjoy violence and you are proud of your conduct. |
| "You stabbed a man immediately after he had been struck with an iron bar fracturing his skull. He was especially vulnerable and quite without defence. | "You stabbed a man immediately after he had been struck with an iron bar fracturing his skull. He was especially vulnerable and quite without defence. |
| "You have demonstrated a thoroughly callous attitude devoid of remorse." | "You have demonstrated a thoroughly callous attitude devoid of remorse." |