Bradford man faces jail for killing dad-of-five (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford man faces jail for killing dad-of-five

7:00am Tuesday 7th August 2012 in News

A 28-year-old man has been warned to expect to go to prison for running down and killing a much-loved great-grandfather.

Qasim Mir pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court yesterday to causing the death of father-of-five Rexford Barnett, 73, in Manchester Road, Bradford, on September 9 last year.

Judge John Potter told Mir, of Rooley Lane, Bradford, it was a tragic case for all involved.

“People convicted of this type of offence normally go to custody,” the judge said.

He adjourned sentence on Mir until September 20 for the preparation of a probation service report.

The judge was told that CCTV footage relating to the case would be played in court.

Mir’s barrister, Andrew Dallas, asked the judge to impose an interim driving ban.

“He takes the view that he should be getting on with that,” Mr Dallas said.

Judge Potter extended Mir’s bail until the sentencing hearing.

Mr Dallas said although Mir was set to stand trial today after denying the offence, he decided to plead guilty several weeks ago and the prosecution had been notified.

Mr Barnett was walking to the bookmakers to watch horse racing when he was fatally injured at 11am.

His son, Andrew Barnett, spoke at the time of the family’s devastation.

Mr Barnett paid tribute to his “happy-go-lucky” father, nicknamed “Little” by his friends and noted for wearing a trilby hat.

For the first nine nights after his death from multiple injuries, the pensioner’s family opened his home in Lyndsey Court for friends to visit and share their memories as part of a Caribbean tradition.

Mr Barnett said his dad had crossed Manchester Road about three times a day. He got himself a paper, went to meet his friends or went to the Checkpoint Centre, a meeting place for the West Indian community. He danced at the centre or played dominos.

Mr Barnett worked at International Harvesters factory before spending decades as a steelworker at Osborn Steel Extrusion in Low Moor , Bradford, until he retired in 2003.

Andrew Barnett said his father, who made Bradford his home after leaving Jamaica in 1963, would be remembered for his smile.