By Chris Williamson-
The judge in the Kian Tordoff murder trial has said a “clear message of deterrence” must be sent out to young people using knives for revenge, as the evil brute that killed young Turdoff was found guilty of his murder.
The trial into the murder of the 19-year-old in John Street on October 10 last year ended on Thursday at Bradford Crown Court (BCC) after a long six weeks, as the jury returned their verdicts at the end of the fifth day of deliberations.
The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on the murder charge, after an extensive trial was also convicted of wounding with intent in respect of a second victim Matthew Page,19, also known as Matthew Lowther, who suffered life-threatening injuries.
The Recorder of Bradford Judge Richard Mansell QC lifted an anonymity order which had previously prevented the media from reporting the name of 17-year-old Sheryar Khan(pictured), who carried out the killing when he was still a 16-year-old youth.
Kian Tordoff (Image: West Yorkshire Police)
Sheryar Khan, 17, of Yew Tree Avenue was found guilty of the murder of Mr Tordoff.
Khan was also found guilty of the wounding with intent of Matthew Page, known as Matthew Lowther, who suffered a life-threatening stab wound to his right-upper chest and a superficial slash wound to the stomach.
Arbaz Khan, 22, of Yew Tree Avenue, Sheryar’s older brother, and Mohammed Adil Hussain, 18, of Kite Mews in the Lower Grange area, Arbaz’s friend, were both found guilty of the manslaughter of Kian Tordoff and guilty of the unlawful wounding of Matthew Lowther.
Aizaz Khan, 27, of Yew Tree Avenue, Sheryar and Arbaz’s older brother, Amaad Shakiel, 20, of Leaventhorpe Lane and Adam Qayum, 23, of Avenel Road, Allerton were acquitted of murder and attempted murder.
Arbaz Khan had also armed himself with a machete from his wife’s home, which belonged to her ex-partner and was sat in storage in a cupboard under the stairs.
Three knives in total were seized by police during their investigation, and a machete sheath with Sheryar Khan’s blood on it from the scene.
In removing the reporting restriction relating to Sheryar Khan’s identity, His Honour Judge Richard Mansell QC said: “I entirely agree with Mr Deas’s submissions about the importance of knife crime, particularly where committed by young defendants.
“Sadly, cases such as this where young males take up arms to exact revenge or take the law into their own hands are not uncommon.
“Also the kind of knives that are routinely being used to inflict injury in such incidents are hunting knives or machetes.
“I consider it very important that the press are able not only to report this case fully, but also identify the perpetrator of the killing of an innocent young man, and the near-fatal stabbing of a second.
“A clear message of deterrence needs to be sent out by the courts when offences like this are committed, especially to young people and those responsible for them.”
Aizaz Khan and Qayum have been released, while Shakiel has been remanded on unconditional bail for other matters.
Three knives in total were seized by police during their investigation, and a machete sheath with Sheryar Khan’s blood on it from the scene.
On removing the reporting restriction relating to Sheryar Khan’s identity, His Honour Judge Richard Mansell QC said: “I entirely agree with Mr Deas’s submissions about the importance of knife crime, particularly where committed by young defendants.
“Sadly, cases such as this where young males take up arms to exact revenge or take the law into their own hands are not uncommon.
“Also the kind of knives that are routinely being used to inflict injury in such incidents are hunting knives or machetes.
“I consider it very important that the press are able not only to report this case fully, but also identify the perpetrator of the killing of an innocent young man, and the near-fatal stabbing of a second.
“A clear message of deterrence needs to be sent out by the courts when offences like this are committed, especially to young people and those responsible for them.”