Six men jailed for combined total of over 75 years for killing Shamus Hussain in Dewsbury park attack
Four men have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and two others jailed for manslaughter following a violent and "entirely senseless" attack
Six men have today been sentenced at Leeds Crown Court for their roles in the killing of a 39-year-old man in a park in Dewsbury.
Shamus Hussain was killed in Crow Nest Park, Dewsbury Moor, on July 12 last year. Earlier this year, a jury returned guilty murder verdicts for four men, while two others were found guilty of manslaughter. All six appeared before Leeds Crown Court today (May 18) for sentencing.
The court heard that a verbal argument initially took place on Pilgrim Drive between Mr Hussain, Basit Ali, Sakeb Ali Khan, Zeeshan Khan, and an unidentified man. Following the dispute, a group of men followed Mr Hussain into Crow Nest Park, where they launched an attack using baseball bats and hockey sticks. He was also stabbed twice in the back, causing fatal injuries.
Detectives from West Yorkshire Police conducted an extensive investigation, painstakingly reviewing and piecing together hours of local CCTV footage to map out the final movements of both Mr Hussain and his attackers.
The defendants sentenced were: Saqlain Ali, aged 22, of Pilgrim Drive, Dewsbury, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and 56 days, Basit Ali, aged 32, of Pilgrim Drive, Dewsbury, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years and 56 days, Sakeb Ali Khan, aged 33, of Pilgrim Drive, Dewsbury, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 15 years and 56 days.
Zeeshan Khan, aged 19, of Pilgrim Crescent, Dewsbury, was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 10 years and 64 days, Asim Akram, aged 21, of Pilgrim Crescent, Dewsbury, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years and Faizaan Akram, aged 19, of Pilgrim Crescent, Dewsbury, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to seven years.
Speaking after the sentencing, senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle said: “Last summer, Shamus Hussain was assaulted in a Dewsbury park in broad daylight. The attack was both violent and entirely senseless, leaving him with injuries from which he tragically died.
“Our thoughts remain with Shamus’ loved ones who had to endure a lengthy trial before seeing his killers brought to justice. Nothing can undo the loss they have suffered, but I hope today’s sentences will bring them some comfort.
“Our investigation team worked tirelessly to piece together the events that led up to Shamus’ death, trawling through hours of CCTV footage and witness accounts. Through a careful and comprehensive inquiry, we were able to secure the evidence needed to bring those responsible for Shamus’s death to justice.”