The final defendant in the Aya Hachem murder trial has been jailed.

Louis Junior Otway, 42, was jailed for life with a minimum of 32 years by The Honourable Mr Justice Jacobs at Preston Crown Court on Friday.

Aya, a 19-year-old law student from Blackburn was gunned down as she walked to buy her family groceries on May 17 2020. 

She was an innocent victim in a bitter fued between business rivals Feroz Suleman and Pachah Khan, who both owned tyre companies in the town.

The intended victim of the fatal shooting was not Aya, but Pachah Khan, with the bullets missing their target and hitting the teenager instead. 

Relatives of Aya provided victim personal statements which were read out to the court during the course of Louis Otway’s sentencing hearing.

Her cousin, Ali Hussain Hachem said: “Aya was the light of her parents’ lives and was always there to give positive energy. She would always arrange surprises for them.

“Her brother always asks his parents to buy chocolates and candles she used to buy.

“Her sister is mentally exhausted and now she barely leaves her bedroom.

“Her older brother has lost his career and can’t find focus in his job or studies.

“My uncle and aunt stay inside and look at pictures of Aya every day and have lost their trust in life.

“They thought they were safe in the UK away from Lebanon and the loss of Aya will never diminish, they have been ripped apart by the loss of her life.”

Aya’s father, Ismail Hachem said: “I came to the UK in 2010 seeking a better life for me and my family.

“Aya was born in Lebanon in 2010 and came with her mother, older brother and younger sister.

“I brought my family here for a better life for us all and we moved around a lot but eventually settled in Blackburn.

“Aya was our shining star and always made us smile.

“She was very bright and worked hard at her studies. She was very special to us and now we’ve lost her and I cannot describe how that feels.

“She was murdered and that changed our lives. She went out to the shops and never came back and we never got to say goodbye.

“The day she was murdered they didn’t just kill Aya they killed our whole family. We still can’t believe she’s gone.

“This ripped our family apart and our lives have changed so much.

“Her life was taken from her before she had even begun to live it and we will never get to see her graduate, get married or have a family of her own.

“It’s something we will never recover from and I can’t tell you the devastation it’s brought to our lives.”

Aya’s mother said: “Our lives changed forever. My husband fled from Lebanon, he was persecuted in the army and we feared for our lives so in 2010 we came to the UK.

“We came to a quiet village in England for a safe and secure life to allow our children to be the best they could be.

“We lived quietly and peacefully. Aya thrived, she was happy and respected and admired by all who knew her.

“On that day I had sent her to get groceries during Ramadan, how can I live with that?

“How can I continue with life, a life full of emptiness. They have taken my soul and crushed it into pieces.”

In 2021, seven people were jailed for more than 200 years for their part in Aya's murder.

  • Feroz Suleman, 40, of Shear Brow, Blackburn was sentenced to 34 years. He instigated and organised the hit.
  • Zamir Raja, 33, of Davyhulme Road, Stretford, Manchester was given 34 years. He was responsible for sourcing and transporting the firearm used in the shooting, as well as firing the shots.
  • Anthony Ennis, 31, of Grasmere Court, Partington was sentenced to 33 years. He drove the Avensis carrying the gunman during the shooting.
  • Ayaz Hussain, 35, of Calgary Avenue, Blackburn was given 32 years. He was the link between the Lancashire offenders and Zamir Raja and Anthony Ennis, based in Manchester. He played a key role in organising and orchestrating the shooting and was in company of Abubakr Satia when petrol was bought to burn out the Avensis, however, this did not go ahead.
  • Abubakr Satia, 32, of Oxford Close, Blackburn, was sentenced to 28 years. He sourced the Avensis used in the shooting and was also was involved in buying petrol afterwards to burn out the car.
  • Kashif Manzoor, 26, of Shakeshaft Street, Blackburn was given 27 years. He ensured the Avensis used to transport the shooter was running on the day of the incident.
  • Uthman Satia, 29, of St Hubert’s Road, Great Harwood was sentenced to 28 years. He helped to transport the gunman and driver to and from the Avensis on Wellington Road as the front seat passenger of the car being driven by his girlfriend, Judy Chapman.