Five men have been convicted of murder after a father died after being attacked after a funeral.
Haji Choudhary Rab Nawaz had attended a Janazah (funeral) at a mosque along with his brother near Durbar Avenue, Coventry, on 2 October last year.
They were followed to their nearby parked car by a group armed with weapons and they were both stabbed. They attempted to drive off but the pair only managed a short distance before seeking help back inside the mosque.
Mr Nawaz, 52, sustained serious chest injuries and he sadly died a short time after arriving at hospital. His brother suffered injuries which were not life-threatening.
The group consisting of Adam Razaaq, Faisal Mohammed, Hasnian Razaaq, Hasham Razaaq and Jenaid Mahmood targeted the two men after seeing them at the funeral.
The car was smashed up following the stabbings and as part of police enquiries it was revealed there was ongoing animosity between two closely-linked families.
The court heard although Mohammed stabbed Mr Nawaz and Adam Razaaq the other man, all five were jointly involved in the violence which led to the death.
After the incident all five quickly fled to different parts of the country but police were able to quickly identify them as suspects and all were arrested within nine days of the killing.
Officers used extensive CCTV, mobile phone records and forensics to link them to the tragic murder and they were convicted following a seven--week trial at Warwick Crown Court.
Adam Razaaq, 21, of Long Lane, Halesowen, will serve a minimum of 25 years; Faisal Mohammed, 30, of South Road, Birmingham, 27 years; Hasnian Razaaq, 24, of Long Lane, Halesowen, 26 years; Hasham Razaaq, 23, of Long Lane, Halesowen, 25 years and Jenaid Mahmood, 19, of Markby Road, Birmingham, 22 year.
Faisal Mohammed, Hasnian Razaaq and Jenaid Mahmood
Adam Razaaq and Hasham Razaaq
Detective Inspector Nick Barnes, from our homicide unit, said: "This was excessive violence which tragically led to the death of a much-loved father.
"These five men acted together and it seems to have stemmed from an ongoing feud between two families.
"It is yet another example of the awful consequences of carrying knives in public places.
"I am grateful to the jury who spent several weeks paying close attention to the evidence, and were clearly unconvinced by the web of lies from those defendants who decided to give evidence.
"Although nothing can sadly ever bring Mr Nawaz back, we hope these convictions will bring some sense of justice for those who knew him."
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