Seven men were sentenced to life up to 34 years for the murder of an innocent woman. Aya Hachem, a 19-year-old law student, was killed in Blackburn, Lancashire, on May 17, 2020. Her family had moved to Britain to flee violence in their native Lebanon
The court announced the verdict against the accused on August 5.
Hachem was on the way to the supermarket to buy food for a daily fast-breaking meal during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when a bullet struck her.
The shooting was arranged by Feroz Suleman, 40, who wanted the owner of a rival tire shop, Pachah Khan, to be executed. Two bullets were shot, the first bullet hit the shop’s window, the second struck and killed Hachem.
The Preston Crown Court sentenced Suleman to a minimum of 34 years in prison. And several collaborators were also sentenced. For instance, Ayaz Hussain received 32 years, while brothers Abubakr and Uthman Satia got 28 years, and Kashif Manzoor was given 27 years.
After the sentence, The Hachem family “thanked God for the justice that has been served.”
“We are so proud of you, and we miss you so much — our lives are difficult without you,” they said in a statement after the sentences were delivered.
