Life in jail for man who killed neighbour to avoid paying back debt

A Birmingham man who stabbed his neighbour to death to avoid repaying a cash debt has been jailed for life, serving a minimum of 24 years behind bars.

Haroon Rafiq, from Tenby Road in Moseley, was found guilty of killing Sajad Hussain on the night of 6 August 2017 after luring him to a secluded spot under the pretence he was handing back the money.

Birmingham Crown Court heard how Mr Hussain contacted Rafiq on several occasions in the weeks leading up to his death to arrange a meeting to repay the debt, understood to be several thousand pounds.

Rafiq agreed to meet the 40-year-old near his home in Tenby Road and walk to an ATM to withdraw the cash, but the 24-year-old had no intention of paying up and shortly after stabbed the father-of-one in the chest.

Hussain ran back in the direction of his house but was chased by Rafiq and was stabbed several more times in the chest.

According to the Police, Rafiq who had bought a new knife specifically to kill his victim disposed of his blood-stained clothes and the weapon near the River Cole before returning to his home just a few doors away from the murder scene.

West Midlands Police launched a murder investigation and just three days later, Rafiq confessed the killing to a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO).

Detective Inspector Paul Joyce from West Midlands Police Homicide team, said: