PA WireAn Edinburgh man and a father and son duo have been found guilty of murdering a cannabis farm burglar seconds after a relative was mistakenly killed with a crossbow.
Family friend Mohammed Sageer, Omar Ramzan and Ramzan’s father Saghawat Ramzan, were all unanimously found guilty of murdering kickboxer Khuzaimah Douglas.
A three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of the moment Saghawat Ramzan shot his brother Waseem Ramzan in the stomach with the “horrific” crossbow during a four-on-one punishment beating intended to kill or maim Mr Douglas.
A second bolt travelling at 270ft-per-second was fired at Mr Douglas less than a minute later, causing fatal internal injuries.
PA WireJurors also convicted Saghawat Ramzan of murdering his brother, who was mistakenly hit by a bolt aimed at 19-year-old Mr Douglas.
Omar Ramzan and Edinburgh-born Sageer were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter in relation to Waseem Ramzan’s death.
Saghawat Ramzan, 47, Lancaster University graduate Omar Ramzan, 24, and 33-year-old Edinburgh-born Sageer all claimed to have been acting in self-defence when the victims were killed.
Mr Douglas, 19, was shot while being held on the ground and died at the scene outside the Ramzans’ home in Pensnett Road, Brierley Hill, Dudley, in the early hours of February 20 last year.
Waseem Ramzan, 36, died in hospital after the bolt that struck him was removed and hidden near the scene.
PA WireMr Douglas, the court heard, had the “fatal misfortune” to be caught by Waseem Ramzan while attempting to flee.
Saghawat Ramzan, who was already holding a sword, went back into the house to arm himself with a large crossbow.
Mr Keeling told the court that as Mr Douglas struggled to fend off four assailants, Saghawat Ramzan fired the first of two crossbow bolts.
The barrister told jurors: “He didn’t need to do so. He fired the bolt from almost point-blank range and, in doing that, he must have intended at least really serious harm, if not to kill.”
Waseem Ramzan suffered a wound to his flank, which caused massive blood loss and severe injuries to multiple internal organs.
Detective Chief Inspector Jim Munro, of West Midlands Police, said around a dozen raiders had tried to break into the rear of the cannabis factory.
He said: “Unbeknown to them, the people that had a vested interest in that property, and the cannabis being grown there, lived next door and in a neighbouring property just up the road.
“They became aware of the burglary taking place and chose to come out of their address armed with crossbows and swords.
“They then sought to carry out an attack on the burgling group, during which a crossbow was initially discharged across the garden, in our belief as a warning shot.
“It (the CCTV) clearly shows a sustained, brutal attack, which was one of punishment, in my belief.”
All three defendants were remanded in custody and will face mandatory life terms when they are sentenced on March 12.
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