A social media influencer and her mother have been found guilty of murdering two men who died in a car crash near Leicester in February 2022. Saqib Hussain and Hashim Ijazuddin, both 21, lost their lives when their car was rammed off the road. The incident unfolded after Mr. Hussain threatened to expose an affair he was having with Ansreen Bukhari, the influencer’s mother.
During the trial at Leicester Crown Court, it was revealed that Mr. Hussain had been lured into meeting the Bukharis under the pretense of receiving money he claimed he spent on his lover during their relationship. Instead, a trap was set for him, and he and Mr. Ijazuddin were ambushed and chased by two cars driven by fellow defendants Rekhan Karwan and Raees Jamal. The pursuit ended tragically when Mr. Ijazuddin’s car hit a tree at the Six Hills junction on the A46, causing it to split in two and catch fire.
The jury deliberated for 28 hours before delivering guilty verdicts for the influencer, Mahek Bukhari, her mother Ansreen, Rekhan Karwan, and Raees Jamal for the men’s murder. Meanwhile, Natasha Akhtar, Ameer Jamal, and Sanaf Gulamustafa were convicted of manslaughter. Another co-accused, Mohammed Patel, was found not guilty of murder or manslaughter.
Mr. Hussain’s 999 call made moments before his death provided chilling evidence of the attack. He pleaded for help as he described being chased and rammed off the road by assailants wearing balaclavas. The call ended abruptly, leaving behind a harrowing scene of tragedy.
The sentencing for the convicted defendants is set to take place on 1 September, with the judge indicating that the penalties would be severe. Following the verdicts, the families of the victims expressed their heartbreak and sorrow. Mr. Hussain’s family described him as a beloved young man, and Mr. Ijazuddin’s relatives remembered him as a kind-hearted and caring individual who would always put others first
