Haji Choudhary Rab Nawaz was fatally stabbed near the Jamiah Masjid and Institute in Foleshill
Five men have been convicted of murder after a ‘much-loved’ father was fatally stabbed as an ongoing feud between families erupted into violence in Coventry. Haji Choudhary Rab Nawaz was brutally attacked after attending a funeral in Foleshill.
Mr Nawaz, 52, and his brother had attended Jamiah Masjid and Institute near Durbar Avenue on October 2, 2022. Afterwards, they were followed to their nearby parked car by a group, armed with weapons, and they were both stabbed.
An attempt was made to drive off but the pair only managed a short distance before seeking help back inside Jamiah Masjid and Institute in Foleshill. Mr Nawaz sustained serious chest injuries and died a short time after arriving at hospital. His brother suffered injuries which were not life-threatening.
Adam Razaaq, Faisal Mohammed, Hasnian Razaaq, Hasham Razaaq and Jenaid Mahmood targeted the two men after seeing them at the funeral in Foleshill. A car was smashed up following the stabbings and enquiries found that there was ongoing animosity between two closely-linked families, said West Midlands Police.
Although Faisal Mohammed, 30, stabbed Mr Nawaz and Adam Razaaq, 21, stabbed the other man, all five were jointly involved in the fatal attack in Foleshill. After the incident, the five men fled to different parts of the country but they were quickly identified as suspects and all were arrested within nine days of the killing.
Detectives used CCTV, mobile phone records and forensics to link them to the murder, said West Midlands Police. Adam Razaaq, 21, of Long Lane, Halesowen, Faisal Mohammed, 30, of South Road, Birmingham, Hasnian Razaaq, 24, of Long Lane, Halesowen, Hasham Razaaq, 23, of Long Lane, Halesowen and Jenaid Mahmood, 19, of Markby Road, Winson Green, Birmingham, were convicted following a seven-week trial at Warwick Crown Court.
Detective Inspector Nick Barnes, of West Midlands Police, said: “This was excessive violence which tragically led to the death of a much-loved father. These five men acted together and it seems to have stemmed from an ongoing feud between two families.
“It is yet another example of the awful consequences of carrying knives in public places. I am grateful to the jury who spent several weeks paying close attention to the evidence and were clearly unconvinced by the web of lies from those defendants who decided to give evidence.
“Although nothing can sadly ever bring Mr Nawaz back, we hope these convictions will bring some sense of justice for those who knew him.”
The men are all due to be sentenced at a later date.
