The Court of Appeal in London has dismissed appeals brought by Ameer Jamal, Sanaf Gulammustafa and Natasha Akhtar, upholding their manslaughter convictions in connection with a high-speed chase that resulted in the deaths of two men.
Background to the case
The fatalities occurred after a confrontation that, at trial at Leicester Crown Court, was said to have escalated into a pursuit along a dual carriageway. The two men, identified in court as Hashim Ijazuddin and Saqib Hussain, died when their vehicle left the road. Prosecutors argued the pursuing car had deliberately forced them off the carriageway.
Four people — Ansreen and Mahek Bukhari, together with Rekhan Karwan and Raees Jamal — were convicted of murder. The three appellants had been convicted of manslaughter after jurors found them less culpable than those convicted of murder.
Sentences upheld and adjusted
The Court of Appeal also confirmed adjustments to several custodial terms made after an earlier challenge. The sentences reported at trial and on appeal include:
| Defendant | Original/Reported Sentence |
|---|---|
| Mahek Bukhari | Life — minimum term reduced to 26 years, 285 days (after appeal) |
| Rekhan Karwan | Life — minimum term 26 years, 10 months |
| Raees Jamal | Life — minimum term 31 years |
| Ansreen Bukhari | Life — minimum term 26 years, 9 months |
| Ameer Jamal | 12 years, 8 months (manslaughter) |
| Sanaf Gulammustafa | 12 years, 9 months (manslaughter) |
| Natasha Akhtar | 9 years, 8 months (manslaughter) |
Local impact and legal context
The confirmations by the appeal court bring finality to a case that has drawn considerable attention locally, both for the severity of the incident and for the disparity in convictions and sentences among those involved. The prosecution had framed the deaths as the result of an intentional manoeuvre in the course of a pursuit following a dispute tied to private material being threatened for exposure.
For the families of the victims and the wider community, the Court of Appeal's judgment will mark the end of statutory avenues to overturn the manslaughter convictions. It also demonstrates the appellate court's approach in distinguishing degrees of culpability where multiple defendants play different roles in the same sequence of events.
What this means going forward
- The manslaughter convictions of Ameer Jamal, Sanaf Gulammustafa and Natasha Akhtar remain in force following the appeal court ruling.
- Those convicted of murder retain life sentences with substantial minimum terms as recorded by the court.
- With the appeals dismissed, the sentences reported are likely to be carried out according to the prison service timetable and parole rules applicable to life and determinate terms.
The case is a reminder of the criminal courts' role in analysing complex incidents where multiple defendants are involved and where the line between manslaughter and murder is a central legal question. Local police and courts in Leicestershire will continue to be involved in associated enforcement and victim liaison work as required.
Reporting by Rhys Jackson, Leicestershire Local Affairs Correspondent.
