Murder of Aya Hachem explained

Aya Hachem was murdered in Blackburn, Lancashire, England on 17 May 2020.[1] [2]

Aya Hachem was a University of Salford law student from Lebanon who moved to the UK in 2011.[1] [2]

At 15:00 BST on 17 May 2020, Hachem was mistakenly shot dead by hitman Zamir Raja in King Street, Blackburn, a large town in Lancashire, North West England.[1] [2] The killing was a drive-by shooting ordered by Feroz Suleman, manager of a tyre business whose intended target was rival businessman Pachah Khan who was nearby at the time.[1] [2]

After a 12-week trial at Preston Crown Court in 2021, seven men who played a part in the planned shooting were convicted of murder on 3 August and sentenced to life imprisonment on 5 August.[1] [2] They are: Feroz Suleman, Zamir Raja, Anthony Ennis, Ayaz Hussain, Abubakr Satia, Uthman Satia and Kashif Manzoor.[1] [2] Uthman Satia's girlfriend, Judy Chapman, was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter.[1] [2] She was sentenced on 1 October to 15 years imprisonment.[1] [2] [3]

References

  1. News: Aya Hachem: Men jailed for student's murder. 5 August 2021. BBC. 19 January 2023.
  2. News: Vinter . Robyn . 5 August 2021 . Seven men jailed for life after Blackburn student killed in botched hit . The Guardian . 19 January 2023.
  3. Web site: Clarke . Sophie-May . Updates as Judy Chapman to be sentenced for role in the killing of Aya Hachem . 2021-12-05 . Lancashire Telegraph . October 2021 . en.