Two more teenagers sentenced in connection to Ashraf Habimana’s Death
Safwan Kashim and Hasan Ayaz pleaded guilty to their roles in a sequence of events on 29 September 2023
Two more teenagers have been sentenced in connection with the violent disorder that led to the tragic death of 16-year-old Ashraf Habimana in Luton last year.
Safwan Kashim and Hasan Ayaz, both aged 18 and formerly from Luton, pleaded guilty to their roles in a sequence of events on 29 September 2023, which culminated in Ashraf’s fatal stabbing.
Although neither were directly involved in the killing, both admitted to participating in the wider violence and carrying knives.
The violence erupted after a fight on Runfold Avenue earlier that afternoon and escalated later in a car park, where two groups clashed again. Ashraf, described by his family as a “calm, caring and extraordinary” young man, was not part of the initial altercation but was attacked and fatally stabbed during the later confrontation.
Athif Hussaindeen was convicted of Ashraf’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years. His twin brother, Althaf Hussaindeen, was found guilty of manslaughter and violent disorder and sentenced to seven years.
At Luton Crown Court on Friday (25 July), Kashim was sentenced to two years for violent disorder and six months for possession of a bladed article, to run concurrently.
Ayaz received a nine-month sentence for possessing a bladed article. Both were released immediately due to time already served on remand.
The convictions follow a thorough investigation by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit, which used CCTV footage, forensic evidence, and eyewitness accounts to reconstruct the day’s events.
Detective Inspector Graham Newton said: “This has been a protracted investigation which has sought to bring to justice everyone who had a part to play in the widespread violence that ultimately led to the loss of a young life.
“Lawlessness on this scale is simply unacceptable, and Bedfordshire Police and our tri-force Major Crime Unit take a strong stance on youth violence as a whole. That is why we have thoroughly investigated both Ashraf’s murder and the events which preceded it, as no dispute should be settled with weapons.”
The sentencing of Kashim and Ayaz brings the total number of people convicted in relation to the case to seven.
The case has reignited calls for tougher action on youth violence and greater community support to prevent further tragedies.