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Pakistan-origin man convicted for murdering Indian in UK
He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter, but the jury ultimately convicted him of murder.
Convict Shazeb Khalid. / Thames Valley Police
A 25-year-old man has been convicted of murdering a 36-year-old Indian restaurant manager in a hit-and-run incident on Valentine's Day this year.
Shazeb Khalid, of Pakistani heritage, was found guilty of the murder of Vignesh Pattabhiraman, who worked at the Indian restaurant 'Vel' in Reading. According to the local police, Khalid used a stolen Range Rover to hit Pattabhiraman as he cycled home after his shift.
Khalid was arrested five days after the incident, on Feb.19, and charged with murder the following day. His trial at Reading Crown Court lasted 28 days, during which he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter, but the jury ultimately convicted him of murder.
Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Stuart Brangwin, the Senior Investigating Officer at Thames Valley Police, stated during the trial that a post-mortem examination confirmed that Pattabhiraman died from a head injury sustained in the collision.
Two others, Soiheem Hussain, 27, and Mya Reilly, 20, were also arrested and charged in connection with the case. Hussain was found guilty of assisting an offender, while Reilly was acquitted on the same charge.
DCI Brangwin welcomed the jury’s verdict, stating, "It was obviously clear to the jury that Khalid intended to cause Vignesh harm that evening. He used the stolen Range Rover he was driving as a weapon and left him to suffer knowing that he had hit him."
He further added, "The communication between Khalid and Hussain throughout the evening of Pattabhiraman's death showed that Hussain was very much aware of what happened and that he assisted in the aftermath.The death of Vignesh has left his family devastated, and I hope this verdict will help them in some way."
Khalid is set to be sentenced on Oct.10.
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