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A MAN WHO killed his love rival in a “ferocious” knife attack was sentenced to 28 years in prison at the Old Bailey today, the Metropolitan Police has confirmed.
Gulam Chowdhury (24) of Barking, east London, murdered 22-year-old Mohammed Yasser Afzal after attacking him inside the cab office where he worked.
The incident took place on 24 March 2014 and Chowdhury was found guilty on 22 April last.
The court heard how Afzal had been in a long-term relationship with a woman who was also in a relationship with Chowdhury.
The woman told Chowdhury that Afzal had a mobile phone containing compromising pictures of her, and that he was threatening to expose their relationship to her parents who did not approve.
Police said Chowdhury plotted to make the incident look like a robbery gone wrong.
At around 8pm on 24 March last year Chowdhury, armed with an eight-inch bladed knife, entered the cab office and confronted Afzal before jumping across the counter and savagely attacking him. He then left the scene.
Afzal never regained consciousness and a post-mortem examination revealed he had been stabbed 20 times during the frenzied attack.
Witnesses at the scene subsequently described to police how Chowdhury, wearing a distinctive shoulder bag, had been seen in the vicinity of the cab office in the minutes leading up to the attack.
Analysis of CCTV and phone records meant officers were able to place Chowdhury at the crime scene at the time of the attack.
Detective Inspector Euan McKeeve, who led the investigation, said the attack was “a ferocious assault”, adding: “The level of violence used was shocking and ensured that Mohammed would not survive the attack.”
Whatever Mohammed’s motives were for the actions he took in attempting to maintain his relationship with a woman, he did not deserve to be murdered.
“It is thanks to the thorough and meticulous work of my officers who have worked tirelessly since Mohammed’s murder that we have managed to prove Chowdhury planned, and then executed, this vicious assault which ended in the savage murder of a young man,” McKeeve stated.
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Great idea guys. Keep up the great work. Social enterprises can often come up with innovative solutions to the problems of society, when civil servants can’t. They should get all the support they need to achieve their goals.
That’s a great idea, extremely well thought out and no doubt will be a valuable resource for many young people. Its unfortunate that it took a personal tragedy to spark this , im sure their brother would be so proud of what they’ve achieved and the lives this has the potential to change . Why can’t the HSE be more proactive like this? Instead of constantly failing people.
I commend these lads for their efforts. Fair dues to them! However, most clients of this service will need therapists in the long term. The HSE are attempting to wash their hands of such clients by funding PIETA and these lads and thinking that’s enough. These clients need long term therapy not 6 sessions with a counselor. No disrespect to good counsellors. However, counsellors do not have the training to achieve meaningful lasting solutions for such clients.
@Jordan Salanger: well said, sure it takes roughly 6 weeks for a counsellor to even get to know a client.
Amazing initiative to help our young people especially boys/men who may find it harder to ask for help. How is this being funded? Is it a charity or is the state helping (which it really should). I would get right behind this and will be keeping my eye on its progress. Best of luck and well done.
That’s a great initiative – however they are not the first online counselling service in Ireland to provide this kind of service – for example http://www.helplink.ie have been providing a low cost online counselling service for past 5 years! They are a charitable organisation providing mental health and conflict resolution services to Irish people of all ages at home and abroad (some free – some low cost).
Sorry but about time our whole health system is a joke politicians spending money on ridiculous unwanted SHITE
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