A Walsall mother has spoken of her shattered heart and unending grief following the horrific murder of her son in a brutal daylight attack that shocked the community.
Brutal Attack on Bloxwich Road
Mohammed Khan, a 22-year-old man, was left for dead after being subjected to a prolonged and vicious assault on March 17 last year on Bloxwich Road. The young man tragically succumbed to his injuries in hospital following the shocking incident that occurred in broad daylight.
Justice Served with Convictions
Following an extensive police investigation, four men have now been convicted in connection with this devastating crime. Three individuals have been found guilty of murder, while a fourth was convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The men convicted of murder are:
- Zain Raja, 23, of Harden Road
- Asad Iftakhar, 34, of Bloxwich Road
- Hassan Iftakhar, 34, also of Bloxwich Road
A fourth defendant, Amaan Khan, 22, of Harden Road, was found not guilty of murder but was convicted of manslaughter for his involvement in the fatal incident.
A Mother's Heartbreaking Statement
Following the court verdicts, Mohammed Khan's mother issued an emotional statement describing her profound loss and the permanent impact of her son's violent death.
"Mohammed was my son, and since he was taken from me, I no longer know what peace feels like," she said. "My heart is broken in a way that can never be repaired. A mother is not meant to outlive her child, and yet here I am, living every day with a pain that never leaves me."
The grieving mother described how her world has been fundamentally altered by the tragedy, saying: "From that moment of his death the world stopped making sense to me. Nothing feels safe anymore. Nothing feels normal. I look at other young men and think of Mohammed. I still expect him to walk through the door. I still wait for him."
Living with Constant Grief
She spoke of the torment she experiences daily, particularly during nighttime hours when sleep eludes her. "I cannot sleep properly anymore. The nights are the hardest," she revealed. "Mohammed died in violent circumstances, and the knowledge of what he may have suffered torments me. I think constantly about whether he was afraid, whether he was in pain, and whether he knew his life was ending."
Describing her son's character, she said: "Mohammed was my baby. I carried him, raised him, and loved him every day of his life. He was kind, caring, and thoughtful. He mattered."
The mother concluded with a poignant reflection on her enduring love: "I will carry this sorrow for the rest of my life. Mohammed will never be forgotten. He lives on in my heart, in my memories, and in my dreams. I loved him from his first breath, and I will love him until my last."
Police Investigation and Community Impact
Detective Inspector Joe Davenport, who led the investigation into Mohammed Khan's murder, provided details about the shocking nature of the attack that occurred on a busy public road.
"This was a brutal attack carried out on a man on a busy road in the daytime and witnessed by many members of the public who were in the street at the time," said Detective Inspector Davenport. "The group stabbed Mr Khan multiple times, kicked and stamped on him. It was a deliberate and prolonged attack and was a shocking outbreak of violence and something we simply won't tolerate on the streets of Walsall."
From Self-Defence to Cold-Blooded Revenge
The detective explained how the situation escalated dramatically: "What started as self-defence, turned into cold blooded revenge, and the group went far beyond what was reasonable in the circumstances, with a jury satisfied that their actions amounted to murder."
Regarding the court outcome, he added: "We are delighted with the convictions and we are expecting the defendants to be spending many years behind bars when they are next in court for sentence."
Knife Crime Warning
Detective Inspector Davenport emphasised the broader implications of this tragic case for community safety and the dangers associated with knife crime.
"This case just highlights the devastating impact of knife crime and the dangers of carrying knives," he stated, underscoring the permanent consequences that such violent acts have on families and communities.
The convictions bring some measure of justice for Mohammed Khan's family, but his mother's heartbreaking words serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of violent crime and the permanent scars left on those who survive such tragedies.
