Riasat Khan jailed for 1978 Aberdeen murder
He was given a minimum of 16 years behind bars
Last updated 24th Nov 2017
A former chef who murdered his restaurant boss has been jailed for life.
Riasat Khan was locked up for a minimum 16 years for the brutal stabbing of Kazi Ahmad at an Aberdeen flat in October 1978.
Callous Khan – who used a filleting knife - fled the scene after the killing leaving his 41 year-old victim tied up.
He escaped to Pakistan before eventually returning to the UK.
But, it was not until 2016 – despite decades of trying to trace Khan – that he was eventually held for the murder.
The now 63 year-old was today/sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow.
He had earlier been convicted at a trial in Edinburgh despite claiming he was acting in self defence.
Lord Beckett told him: “Justice was delayed, but justice has not been denied.”
The judge said Khan had taken £900 from Mr Ahmad, gambled it before trying to “blacken his character” in court.
He went on: “I preferred the evidence of his colleagues from the restaurant who explained that he was kind and generous.
“He was well liked and respected by them. As a result of your vicious assault, Mr Ahmad lost his life.
“His family – who he had been supporting – lost him forever.”
Khan – who the court heard fears he will die in jail due to his apparently failing health – showed no emotion as he was led to the cells.
The killer was a chef at the Raj Dulal restaurant – owned by Mr Ahmad – in Aberdeen's Dee Street.
The fatal attack occurred at a flat in the city's Rosemount Viaduct.
Khan claimed in court Mr Ahmad had wanted him to perform sex acts on him.
Khan stabbed his victim repeatedly in the neck and body. He said he had then knifed him in self defence.
Khan initially fled to England then later moving on to Greece. He travelled back to Pakistan before returning to the UK and settling in Wales in the 1990s.
Khan remained at large despite regular attempts to find him
It was only in May last year that he was arrested at Birmingham Airport as he tried to board a flight to Pakistan.
The court heard today/yesterday this was helped as a result of “more enhanced security measures” at airports due to recent terror threats.
Gary Allan QC, defending, said Khan knew a life sentence was “inevitable”.
Mr Allan added: “He is wholly accepting of his fate...he understands in light of his age and his health there is a significant risk he will die in prison.”
The advocate said Khan was “sorry” Mr Ahmad had died and the “distress” he caused the family.
Sentencing, Lord Beckett praised the “excellent work” of the police, forensic scientists and pathologists which led to Khan being convicted.
The judge also today/yesterday asked prosecutors whether “any lesson can be learned” in preventing any delays when a person – like Khan – is subject to a warrant