Trial set for man accused of 2006 murder

A provisional trial date has been set for a man charged with murder in connection with a triple shooting in Sheffield almost 20 years ago.

Ibrahim Ilyas, 20, was shot and killed while sitting in a car on Abbeyfield Road, Pitsmoor, on 3 June 2006, with two other men who were injured in the incident.

Faiser Hussain, of no fixed abode, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court earlier following his arrest at Manchester Airport on Saturday.

The 44-year-old will face trial for murder and two counts of attempted murder at the same court on 5 October and will be tried by a High Court judge.

Mohammed Ali, from Fir Vale, was convicted of the same charges following a trial in 2006 and was jailed for a minimum term of 30 years for the murder.

There is no suggestion that he was wrongfully convicted.

The Recorder of Sheffield, Judge Jeremy Richardson KC, set the timetable for Hussain's trial, then recused himself from the case.

He told Hussain: "When the trial of your co-accused took place 20 plus years ago, I was then a member of the bar and I prosecuted the case, which resulted in a conviction of your co-accused who was given a minimum term of many, many years.

"It is wholly inappropriate for me to have anything whatsoever to do with this case... over and above making timetabling decisions today."

He said the trial would take place in Sheffield but be tried by a judge who did not sit in the court regularly, and who had "no connection whatsoever with the history of this matter".

Hussain, who attended via video link from HMP Doncaster, was remanded into custody before his next appearance at the same court on 12 June.

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