皇冠体育app

Three men who were part of a gang that stabbed a man to death have had their sentences increased after the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP referred the case to the Court of Appeal.

On 31 August 2019, the offenders, including Haroon Azad, 23, Umar Sarfraz, 23 and Mohammed Hamza Shah, 21, embarked on a car chase through the streets of Watford after a dispute escalated between themselves and one of the victims, Ryan Higgins. 皇冠体育appy deliberately collided with the car that Mr Higgins was driving and launched a violent attack on him and Luke O鈥機onnell, 26, who was a passenger. 皇冠体育app offenders used a wrench to smash through the window of the car, and weapons including a samurai sword and a machete to attack the victims who were trapped inside the car.

On 16 September at Reading Crown Court, all 3 men were found guilty of manslaughter for their involvement in Luke O鈥機onnell鈥檚 death. 皇冠体育appy were all also found guilty of wounding Ryan Higgins, who was stabbed in the leg, arm and back during the attack. 皇冠体育appy were each sentenced to 9 years鈥� imprisonment.

Following the sentencing, the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP, referred their sentences to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

On 25 November the Court of Appeal found their original sentences to be unduly lenient and increased them to 12 years鈥� imprisonment each for Shah and Sarfraz, and 13 years鈥� imprisonment for Azad.

Speaking after the hearing, the Solicitor General, Alex Chalk QC MP said:

皇冠体育app violent actions of these men cost Luke O鈥機onnell his life. My thoughts remain with Luke鈥檚 family and friends who have suffered an unimaginable loss. I hope the Court鈥檚 decision to increase these sentences acts as a warning to those who commit such violent crimes, that they can expect to spend a very long time in prison.