COURT proceedings sparked by the discovery of a man's body in an old bank took a dramatic turn yesterday afternoon after defendants entered guilty pleas on the day their trial was due to begin.

Qaisar Shah, Liam Buckley, and Sabbah Shahmuradi had all been charged with the murder of Bradford bus driver Asghar Badshah, whose body was found in a derelict building on December 29, 2019.

They were all also charged with conspiracy to kidnap, and Shah with conspiracy to possess criminal property, along with Sobia Syed.

Mr Badshah was kidnapped from Mayo Road, Bradford, in the early hours of November 30, 2019.

Police discovered his body in an old bank building in Commercial Street in Batley town centre, just over a month later.

During a hearing at Bradford Crown Court this afternoon, Sabbah Shahmuradi, also 36, of French’s Wells, Woking, Surrey, pleaded not guilty to murder – which will lie on file – and guilty to conspiracy to kidnap.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Police on the scene in Batley in December 2019, where Asghar's body was discoveredPolice on the scene in Batley in December 2019, where Asghar's body was discovered

Liam Buckley, 34, of Lynwood Crescent in Sunningdale, Berkshire, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and not guilty to murder, which again will lie on file.

Qaisar Shah, 36, of Mayo Crescent, West Bowling, had already pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter, and also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to kidnap and conspiracy to possess criminal property.

Sobia Syed, 37, of Henna Close, Great Horton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess criminal property.

Zaban Syed, 60, of Mayo Road, West Bowling, pleaded not guilty to the same offence, which will lie on file.

All the charges relate to the death of Mr Badshah, 39, who was a bus driver for First West Yorkshire before his death.

He was known affectionately to friends as 'Oscar', and after his death his twin brother Akbar described him as an "honest, hard-working bus driver" and said the time since his death has been "difficult" but they had "faith justice would prevail".

All four defendants will be sentenced by the Recorder of Bradford Judge Richard Mansell QC at Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday, February 8.

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