TWO MEN are facing life in prison after being found guilty of murdering a father-to-be in a “drive-by shooting” outside his Bradford home.

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Imran Khan, 30, was killed by a single gunshot to the forehead, in Round Street, West Bowling, on the evening of June 6.

Amjad Khan, 31, of New Cross Street, West Bowling, and Ismail Khan, 32, of Masham Place, Heaton, were found guilty today following a five-week trial at Bradford Crown Court.

Ziaurahman Khan, 30, of Spring Mill Street, West Bowling, and 28-year-old Mohammed Faisal Riaz, of Ryan Street, West Bowling, were both found not guilty of murder.

The jury had heard from prosecutor Peter Moulson QC that Imran had been killed after smashing the rear windscreen of a Ford Focus, containing four men, with a baseball bat, as it pulled up outside his house.

He said Amjad had previously made gun gestures towards the victim and threatened to shoot him.

The court heard there had been hostility between the two men after they were both jailed for a joint offence of kidnap, but Imran had been released first from prison.

A number of shots from a six-inch pistol were said to have been fired at Imran by Amjad and Ismail, but the court heard it was the latter who had “fired the fatal shot.”

Amjad was said to be the driver of the car, which left the scene and was then abandoned.

The vehicle, which had contained the gun and ammunition, was found around three hours after the incident in a nearby street, where it had been deliberately destroyed by fire.

Qasim Khan, 18, of Ryan Street, and Rizwan Iqbal, 19, of Parkside Road, West Bowling, were found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by torching the car.

Amjad had already pleaded guilty to that charge prior to the trial.

Qasim was sentenced to two years in a young offenders institution, with Iqbal ordered to serve 18 months.

Sentencing the pair, the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, said Amjad had known Qasim and had called him just five minutes after the shooting to enlist his help.

Qasim then recruited Iqbal, who was seen buying a petrol can and petrol from a garage just ten minutes before the car was set on fire nearby.

Judge Thomas said: “You, Qasim Khan, were involved from first to last. You, Rizwan Iqbal, were then recruited and played a full part in what went on”, adding that their actions had been designed to “substantially frustrate” the police investigation into the alleged murder.

After the jury had been out for more than 20 hours, they returned to find Amjad guilty of murder by a majority verdict of 11 to one, with Ismail found guilty unanimously.

Judge Thomas said the offence carried an “inevitable” sentence of life imprisonment, adding that the minimum term for murder using a firearm constituted a sentence of at least 30 years.

The pair are due to be sentenced tomorrow morning.

Mr Moulson also stated a starting point of 30 years, adding: “The seriousness of this murder is particularly high given the use of a firearm to commit it.”

He said additional aggravating features in the case included Amjad’s desire of revenge against Imran linked to the earlier kidnap offence, and the fact Imran’s murder was witnessed by his mother, sister, and brother.

Speaking after the verdicts, Detective Chief Inspector Ian Scott, of the West Yorkshire Police Homicide and Major Enquiries Team, said: "Two men have been found guilty of Imran’s murder and this brings our investigation to a conclusion.　

“Our thoughts remain very much with his family at this time, particularly his young daughter who was born shortly after his death and will sadly grow up without knowing her father. 　

“We hope these convictions will help to give them some comfort and some closure to what has been a very sad time for them. 　

“Imran was a much-loved member of his family and his death has had a massive impact on them, particularly those who saw him lose his life in such shocking and tragic circumstances.”

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