Naeem Butt did not give evidence in his defence
A man who murdered his estranged wife's lover in a Blackburn alleyway has been jailed for life.
Naeem Butt, 38, of Johnston Street in the town, was convicted of killing Saheel Ahmed, 24, at Preston Crown Court on Thursday.
Butt, a trained butcher, slit Mr Ahmed's throat with a foot-long (30cm) knife and stabbed him six times in the early hours of 22 June 2010.
At Friday's sentencing hearing he was told he must serve at least 26 years.
Butt had lay in wait for Mr Ahmed as he left the home of the his wife Shakra Ali.
After he attacked him, he left the scene in Warrington Street and called a taxi to his address in Johnston Street.
'Hatred and revenge'
He changed out of his bloodstained clothes but left a pair of jeans behind with blood which matched that of Mr Ahmed.
Later the same morning he boarded a train from Manchester to Edinburgh and remained at large for two weeks, shaving off his beard in a bid to evade the police.
He was arrested after CCTV images of him captured on the rail journey were released by detectives.
Saheel Ahmed was in a relationship with the defendant's wife
Det Supt Neil Hunter, from the Force Major Investigation Team, said: "This was a distressing case where the motive and opportunity was compelling and the evidence gathered overwhelming and undeniable so I welcome the sentence imposed by the judge.
"Naeem Butt is a nasty, violent individual who has no regard or respect for human life."
He added: "This was a well planned, premeditated, wicked and evil killing. The injuries he inflicted upon the victim were incomprehensible and unnecessarily gratuitous and brutal.
"The attack was borne out of hatred and an element of honour to exact revenge but was in reality a failure on his behalf to accept the breakdown of a violent relationship he shared with his wife, a person he had previously subjected to significant domestic violence and abuse."
Saheel Ahmed's family said: "Saheel was a wonderful son and brother and an outstanding person. He was taken from us cruelly and this has left us devastated.
"For me and the family there will always be a big part missing. Whilst today's sentencing will not bring Saheel back it helps us to know that the person responsible has not escaped unpunished.
"Now this ordeal is over we can grieve for our son and remember him for the happy moments we spent together."
- Published27 January 2011
- Published25 January 2011
- Published18 January 2011
- Published8 July 2010
