A TEENAGER who stabbed a talented artist to death using a Rambo-style survival knife has been jailed for life.
Razi Ul-Hassan, aged 24, was killed by Shamari Hanchard-Kerr in August last year near his home in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton.
The young man was studying art at Wulfrun College and the University of Wolverhampton when he was attacked by the 18-year-old.
Hanchard-Kerr was on bail for assaulting two police officers at the time.
He was ordered to serve at least 15 years before being considered for parole at Birmingham Crown Court.
Mr Justice Simon described him as a bully who had acted aggressively before the fatal confrontation in August last year.
Although the judge accepted that Hanchard-Kerr had been pursued by three men, he told him: “You then turned and began a violent and unjustified attack. What is clear is that you used grossly disproportionate force.”
Hanchard-Kerr, of Cheltenham Avenue, Wolverhampton, was convicted of murder and two section 18 woundings after a jury heard how he stabbed the three men during a row over a debt.
The court heard that each of the victims was stabbed three times, but although two of them survived, Mr Ul-Hassan suffered a fatal chest wound.Hanchard-Kerr’s identical twin brother, Kamahl Hanchard-Kerr, also stood trial accused of murder, but pleaded guilty to affray after the jury failed to reach a verdict on the more serious charge.
Kamahl Hanchard-Kerr, also of Cheltenham Avenue, was sentenced to 18 months’ detention for his involvement in the violence.
The brothers, then aged 17, were picked out at identity parades by witnesses to the killing, which happened in Crosby Close, Whitmore Reans, on August 12 last year.
Detective Inspector Martin Hurcomb, who led the investigation, said: “We are pleased with today’s sentences as are Razi’s family although no sentence can ever replace his life.”
Razi’s sister, Syeda Batool, spoke on behalf of her family after the guilty verdicts.
She said: “We are still grieving for the loss of my brother – nothing can bring him back to us.
“At least we now know that the person who killed him is in prison.”
