Jury finds Mohammed Ali Khan guilty of murdering David Read

Khan, 35, of Preston New Road, was charged with the murder of Mr Read at his Leamington Road home in Blackburn on June 6.

This morning (December 18), following a week of evidence and less than an hour after being sent out to consider their verdict by Judge Graham Knowles KC, the six men and six women returned with a unanimous verdict of guilty.

READ MORE: Murder trial told Mohammed Ali Khan killed David Read in Blackburn

Preston Crown Court heard how drug dealer and addict, Khan, had known his vulnerable victim for around 19 years and had regularly taken drugs with him in Mr Read's flat.

The prosecution said that Khan had become angered over £700 worth of drugs that he claimed Mr Read had stolen from him and in a fit of rage, he attacked his "friend", inflicting more than 100 injuries to his whole body using a claw hammer and pair of scissors.

He then washed his hands of blood, gathered his belongings and left Mr Read to die alone on the floor of his flat.

READ MORE: David Read murder accused 'admitted guilt to sister' in call

In the days that followed, Khan then made attempts to cover his tracks, which included getting changed, discarding his blood stained clothes, deleting Mr Read's number from his phone, and smashing Mr Read's phone to pieces. 

When the trial opened last week, the jury heard evidence from Home Office Pathologist Dr Charles Wilson who said that Mr Read died as a result of multiple injuries.

David Read (Image: Lancs Police)

Dr Wilson said there were more than 100 areas of injury found on his body, including 46 on his skull, caused by the round end of a hammer, the claw of a hammer, and the blades of a pair of scissors.

It was also heard Mr Read had suffered injuries and fractures to his hands, consistent with self-defence wounds.

Photos displayed to the jury in court showed blood splattered across Mr Read's flat, with red stains visible on the walls behind a sofa in his living room. 

READ MORE: Mohammed Ali Khan said David Read was his friend, jury told

Forensic pathologist Lindsay Meek also told the court Mr Read had been attacked in four different areas of his home, including two in the bedroom and two in the living room. 

Ms Meek said extensive blood stains were found on a sofa in the lounge and on the walls behind the sofa, as well as on an armchair.

Ms Meek also said Mr Read’s blood was found on his bed and on the floor of the bedroom close to a radiator.

Following his arrest and charge, Khan kept his mouth shut when being interviewed by the police but effectively confessed to the killing when speaking on the phone with his sister while in custody.

READ MORE: Fate of murder accused, Mohammed Ali Khan, in jury's hands

The calls were recorded, as is procedure with calls made from custody, and even though Khan spoke Urdu, when the conversation was translated, it was clear that Khan had told his sister : "I have committed murder.

"Murder has been done by me, what do I do. He stole the stuff worth £700."

Giving evidence at the trial, Khan told jurors he acted in self-defence, but prosecuting barrister Jaime Hamilton KC dismissed his words, saying if the defendant had not intended to kill Mr Read, why hadn't he told his sister this and why hadn't he told the police he was trying to defend himself. 

He also highlighted the fact that Khan had no visible injuries upon his body, save for those inflicted upon him by the police as they were attempting to arrest him.

This morning (December 18), after being sent to deliberate at 11.57am, the jury came back with a unanimous verdict of guilty at just before 12.45pm. 

Det Supt Mark Haworth-Oates, of Lancashire Police, said: “This was a truly shocking murder committed against a vulnerable man in his own home.”

Alex Williams, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West said: “Mohammed Khan subjected David Read to a prolonged and brutal attack in his own home.

“It was the prosecution case that Khan had not acted in self-defence as he claimed, but he had intended to kill Mr Read when he used weapons, plus his fists and feet to inflict in excess of a hundred injuries.

“Today after considering the evidence we presented during the trial, including extensive CCTV, the jury have found him guilty of his murder.

“Our thoughts remain with Mr Read’s family at this difficult time. We hope that Khan’s conviction today brings some measure of comfort to them.”

Khan will be sentenced on Wednesday.