Preston teenager jailed for mistaken identity murder
17 year old Joshua Boardman has been sentenced to over 14 years in prison
Last updated 30th Nov 2022
A teenager from Preston who stabbed a man to death because he thought he was messaging his girlfriend has been jailed. Hiwa Ali-Khani,28, sustained serious injuries in the attack on Raikes road in July this year.
We can now name 17 year old Joshua Boardman as the attacker, having had reporting restrictions lifted by a Judge at Preston Crown Court Today.
The court heard how Mr Ali-Khani was killed in a case of mistaken identity. Boardman intercepted a message his girlfriend received from another man and had arranged a meeting with him. Detectives discovered Mr Ali-Khani had been sat in his car, a black Audi, when he was approached by Boardman, who mistakenly thought he was the person who had been speaking to his girlfriend.
Boardman got into the car and started to argue with Mr Ali-Khani, before both got out and the confrontation continued on the street.
During the confrontation he stabbed Mr Ali-Khani multiple times, causing him to collapse. Boardman then realised that his intended victim was actually parked in a vehicle behind Mr Ali-Khani's.
After realising he had attacked the wrong person, Boardman flagged down a passing police car, and told officers that he had killed someone and wanted to be arrested. Det Ch Insp Mark Haworth-Oates, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, says, “Mr Ali-Khani’s death was shocking, tragic and wholly avoidable – he was simply going about his normal daily life when he was attacked for no reason, in a case of mistaken identity.
“The man who Boardman intended to attack was sat nearby in his own vehicle – he witnessed the stabbing and went to the aid of the victim. Although he didn’t realise it at the time, he was watching what could have been his own murder, unfold before him.
“Once again this investigation shows the devastating impact that knife crime has. The incident lasted for less than a minute, but the consequences are felt far and wide."
Boardman pleaded guilty to murder, as well as possession of a bladed article and was handed a life sentence. He must serve a minimum of 14 years and seven months.