Cops in vow over Meshack killers

Jul 30 2007 By Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

MURDER squad detectives today vowed the quest to bring the killers of shooting victim Meshack Bernard-Brown to justice would continue.

He was shot at close range by a masked man as he celebrated his 20th birthday with friends in Lozells.

Police believe he was targeted after two Asian men were stabbed in separate incidents in Lozells earlier that night.

The aspiring football coach had nothing to do with the earlier incidents.

It is believed he was killed because of the colour of his skin - the innocent victim of an attack against the black community by a gang bent on revenge.

On Friday, a Birmingham Crown Court jury was discharged after failing to reach verdicts in the trial of three men accused in relation to the murder.

Mahtab Azam, 20, of Francis Road, Lozells, Asif Nadeen, 27, of Brunswick Road, Handsworth, and Mohammed Asif, 20, of Roland Grove, Lozells all denied murdering Meschack Brown and charge of conspiracy to commit violent disorder.

Mr Justice Mackay remanded them in custody and said a re-trial would take place in November.

They were accused of being part of the gang that followed the gunman as he shot tragic Meshack.

Murder squad detectives today revealed they were seeking two other men. Both fled abroad and one was believed to be in Pakistan.

Detectives are now liaising with Crown Prosecution Service lawyers in the hope of seeing them extradited back to Britain.

A police spokesman said: "This remains an on-going investigation.

"There are still two people that we wish to speak to in connection with this offence and we will continue to investigate until the right people have been brought to justice."

Meshack was shot dead as he celebrated his birthday with friends in Melbourne Avenue, on November 13 last year, following two nights of sporadic violence on the streets.