A Hartlepool man has been given a lengthy jail term after a jury found him guilty of manslaughter following a brutal attack on his childhood friend.
Fatal attack in Dyke House flat
Callum Howe, 23, was sentenced to 16 years in prison at Teesside Crown Court after being convicted of manslaughter over the death of Mohammed Shaan Ali Rasul, known as Shaan. The attack took place at a flat on Allerton Close in the Dyke House area of Hartlepool on 23 November last year.
The jury cleared Howe of murder but found he was guilty of manslaughter. The Recorder of Middlesbrough heard that Howe struck Mr Rasul around a dozen times to the head and face with a hand axe; forensic evidence indicated many blows were delivered while Mr Rasul lay close to or on the bedroom floor in a confined space between the bed and the wall.
“The attack was brutal, it was savage and Shaan Rasul did not stand a chance of survival.”
Evidence and circumstances
Prosecutors told the court Howe was highly intoxicated at the time, having taken significant amounts of cocaine, cannabis and the prescription drug pregabalin. After the assault, Howe left the flat by squeezing through a bedroom window and was seen by neighbours acting erratically in the street, described as wide-eyed and covered in blood. He later became aggressive towards medical staff and had to be restrained.
Home Office pathologist Dr Louise Mulcahy gave evidence that Mr Rasul sustained catastrophic blunt-force injuries to the head, causing unconsciousness, respiratory compromise and death. When police entered the flat around 11.30am, Mr Rasul was likely already deceased.
Sentence and aftermath
Judge Francis Laird, who imposed sentence, said he could not be sure who started the confrontation but concluded Howe’s response went far beyond any reasonable claim of self‑defence. The sentence includes an extended term with five years on licence following release.
- Victim: Mohammed Shaan Ali Rasul, aged 23
- Defendant: Callum Howe, aged 23
- Location: Allerton Close, Dyke House, Hartlepool
- Date of attack: 23 November (previous year)
- Verdict: Manslaughter (jury)
- Sentence: 16 years (extended, with five years on licence)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of attack | 23 November |
| Location | Allerton Close, Dyke House, Hartlepool |
| Verdict | Manslaughter |
| Sentence | 16 years (plus five years on licence) |
Family impact was referenced during sentencing: a statement from Mr Rasul’s sister, read to the court, described the profound grief caused by his loss. The judge acknowledged no term of imprisonment could fully reflect the value of the life taken or the anguish felt by those left behind.
This case has raised further concerns locally about substance misuse and violent incidents within the community. Police and court officials confirmed the conclusions reached at trial; no further details about motive were established by the jury.
Anyone affected by the issues raised in this report — including victims’ families or those struggling with substance misuse — can contact local support services through Hartlepool Borough Council and regional charities for guidance and assistance.
