HITMAN killer Manoor Qadar enjoyed a seaside holiday with the cousin who was to become his victim, it was revealed today.

Qadar, of Holland Street, Blackburn, is facing a life sentence next month after being found guilty of the New York street shooting which killed Shaukat Parvez in 1996.

The prosecution said that Shaukat fled to New York from Pakistan with his wife, Rubina Malik, after marrying without her father's permission.

The furious parent, who had planned for his daughter to marry another man, arranged for Qadar to murder the couple in exchange for £41,000, the American court was told in April.

His wife and family today said a photograph, taken in during the holiday, proves how close the cousins were.

His brother Khalid, 45, who was also in the picture, said: "They were very close and had been friends since childhood. He had no reason whatsoever to murder him, as this picture shows."

Shaukat, 33 when he was killed, and Manzoor, 41, grew up together in Pakistan until Manzoor moved to England in 1971.

In 1980 he went to Pakistan to visit his cousin as he wanted to "re-find his roots".

Shaukat also acted as godparent to several of his nieces and nephews aged 17, 14, 13, 12, seven and five who are living in Blackburn.

Khalid said: "He wanted a change so spent two years with his cousin just hanging out and living a normal life.

"They both enjoyed weight training and running. They were both good people from a very close family."

In 1984 Shaukat visited his cousin and they went on holiday in Blackpool sightseeing and driving around the countryside which is what they "loved".

Manzoor later organised a visa to go back to Pakistan again but could not use it as he was busy working as a qualified nurse.

But in 1996 there was a vicious street crime in Brooklyn New York -- the climax of a violent saga involving Shaukat and his love for a betrothed woman.

Now Manzoor's wife of 19 years is left in their Blackburn home with their six children.

They are powerless to reverse the decision of the Federal Court in Brooklyn but still protest his innocence.

Fehmeeda, 39, said: "My husband is innocent and we tried to get another solicitor but it is too late.

"We are so helpless and feel that the law has been taken out of our hands."

Fehmeeda said: "The children loved their father dearly and would do anything to have him back."

The sentence on Manzoor will be delivered in front of the courts in New York on October 9 but the family will not be present.

He is currently being detained in prison and has been since his extradition last year.