Murderer who fled to Pakistan to evade justice convicted of execution-style killing

A man who fled to Pakistan to evade justice was convicted today of murdering Andre Marshall in Urmston in 2015.

Abdul Qadir Ahsan, 28, was convicted of murdering the 29-year-old after a lengthy trial at Manchester Crown Court.

Alan Richardson, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: “Andre Marshall’s death is a tragic reminder of the cost of gang violence on our streets.

“Abdul Ahsan shot Mr Marshall repeatedly in his own car before fleeing the scene in a getaway car. He later fled to Pakistan.

“I hope his conviction sends a clear message that murderers who flee abroad will not escape justice. We will continue to work collaboratively with international partners to ensure perpetrators are returned to face the full force of the law.

“The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) worked closely with Greater Manchester Police and the Extradition Unit to arrange Ahsan’s return to the UK to face justice.

“At trial, the web of lies Ahsan told in an attempt to distance himself from the murder unravelled leading to the jury convicting him of murder.

“My thoughts are with Mr Marshall’s family who have waited so long for justice. I truly hope that as Ahsan faces the consequences of his actions, they can begin to move forward knowing Ahsan is now convicted of the brutal murder of their loved one.

“The Crown Prosecution Service will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to overcome barriers to justice. Wherever offenders go and however long it takes, we will continue to strive for justice for victims and their families.”

Building the case

CPS North West prosecuted this case following a GMP investigation.

Andre Marshall was found dead in the car park of St Clements Church in Urmston at 7.25am, on 20 May 2015.

A postmortem examination confirmed that there were at least seven gunshot wounds to Mr Marshall’s upper body, right shoulder and lower body. He also had a fractured skull which was consistent with a gun being used to inflict a blunt force injury.

Police interviewed Abdul Ahsan, who said he had been with Mr Marshall earlier that evening, he claimed that he had been dropped off some time before the shooting. He was bailed pending further investigation but fled to Pakistan soon after.

The investigation revealed that Ahsan wasn’t dropped off as he had claimed in his interview. His blood was found on the steering wheel, visor, gearstick and the handbrake of Mr Marshall’s BMW. Cell site data confirmed that Ahsan had been in the same location as Mr Marshall at the time he was shot.

Ahsan was traced to Pakistan and CPS North West worked with GMP and the Extradition Unit to arrange for Ahsan to be brought back to the UK.

Nine years later, Ahsan, now back in the UK, was arrested and re-interviewed. When faced with the new evidence, he changed his story, saying that he and Mr Marshall travelled to Urmston, where two men were waiting for them. He claimed those men travelled with them for a time but turned violent and Ahsan had jumped out of the car before Mr Marshall was fatally shot.

Footage was produced at trial showing a man moving Mr Marshall’s car after his death, first to outside a nearby pub and a few minutes later to Ashfield Road. The same man then got into a waiting car and left the scene.

At trial we proved that Ahsan murdered Mr Marshall in cold blood before moving his car, in an attempt to avoid detection. He then recruited others to move the car again to Fallowfield in a further attempt to thwart investigators.

Following a lengthy trial, on 23 October 2024, Ahsan was convicted of Andre Marshall’s murder.

He will be sentenced on 24 October 2024.