Three guilty of involvement in Manchester fatal stabbing

Three men have been found guilty of the fatal stabbing of Sadiq Al-Lami in Manchester.

Although it was never clear who struck Mr Al-Lami, Sultan Bakr, 22, and brothers Sikander Babar, 24, and Abdul Babar, 19, all denied their individual parts in the death of the 31-year-old but were convicted after trial of murder.

Karen Tonge, Specialist Prosecutor for CPS North West’s Complex Casework Unit, said: “This was a vicious group attack on a lone male.

“Although each played a slightly different role, all three men shared a common purpose to cause at least serious harm to Sadiq Al-Lami. This was clear from their actions before, during and after the murder.

“Each had sought to blame each other for the murder.

“Today, after considering all the evidence presented to them, including CCTV footage, evidence from the offenders’ phones and eyewitness testimony, the jury have found three men guilty of murder.

“Nothing can bring Sadiq Al-Lami back. I can only hope that Sadiq’s family can feel some sense of justice following this prosecution. My thoughts are with the family, who have displayed tremendous dignity during the whole trial process.

“I would also wish to express my gratitude to the eyewitnesses who came forward in this case.”

Building the case – each individual’s specific role

If any person assists or encourages another to commit any crime - including a murder where they have to have intent to kill or at the very least cause serious harm which then leads to a death - they can face prosecution for their involvement.

Prosecutors must consider each of their roles before charging and then have to prove to a jury beyond reasonable doubt that each defendant played a part and is therefore guilty of a crime. If they are found guilty, judges will then decide how culpable each is based on the jury decision, and the evidence against them, before sentencing.

In this case the prosecution looked at all of the available evidence to piece together each defendant’s role.

No-one is ever charged simply because they were in the street or around or about an offence. A person can only be guilty as a secondary party if they share the same violent intention of the principal attacker and act to encourage or assist the offence.

By demonstrating the actions of the defendants on before, during and after the murder, the prosecution was able to convince the jury of their guilt.

Bakr and the Babar brothers were together in a black Mercedes that chased the grey Mercedes driven by Mr Al-Lami. They were all at the scene together and left together after Mr Al-Lami had been stabbed to death.

They remained together when abandoning the car and making sure no incriminating evidence was left behind. None of them aided Mr Al-Lami or called for help.

The defendants deliberately chased down Mr Al-Lami in the car, cutting him off as they approached a red light. They all got out of the car and their actions following the fatal stabbing show that they acted very much as a group.

Details of the case:

Around 1.30am on Tuesday 23 January 2024, Mr Al-Lami was found lying face down in the road on Kingsway, Manchester, with severe injuries.

Police officers and paramedics tried to save Mr Al-Lami’s life, but he sadly died at Manchester Royal Infirmary later that morning at 5.48am.

A post-mortem examination confirmed he had died as a result of multiple stab wounds, which amounted to 11 in total.

Witnesses at the scene described a black Mercedes driving at speed in pursuit of a grey Mercedes. The two vehicles came to a halt at the junction of Kingsway and Didsbury Road.

Mr Al-Lami, who was alone, got out of the grey Mercedes first. He was followed by the Babar brothers and Bakr, who was wearing a balaclava, from the black Mercedes.

An altercation followed between the men and Mr Al-Lami. Mr Al-Lami had what is believed to have been a drain rod in his hand. At least one of the other men had a large knife.

It is not clear who inflicted the fatal wound, but together, the Babar brothers and Bakr were involved in holding Mr Al-Lami down as he was repeatedly stabbed before being left for dead.

The three men then got back into the black Mercedes and drove away at speed.

Documents containing names connected to the Babar brothers were left at the scene.

The investigation revealed the men from the black Mercedes had spent the night together smoking cannabis and inhaling nitrous oxide prior to the altercation with Mr Al-Lami.

Police officers traced Bakr to an address in London. Brothers Abdul and Sikander Babar were arrested at Clacton-on-Sea railway station, having been sighted getting out of the back of a lorry, thought to be trying to leave the country to evade the police.

The black Mercedes was later found abandoned at the junction of Boothfield Road and Royalthorn Road in Withington.

CCTV footage was seized which showed the men searching the vehicle, removing any incriminating evidence. No knives were recovered.

The three men denied taking part in the fatal stabbing and sought to blame each other for the murder of Mr Al-Lami.

Following a lengthy trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, on 8 August, Sultan Bakr, Sikander Baba and Abdul Babar were found guilty of murder.