Man jailed for murder of Saeed Hussan
3:00pm Friday 3rd July 2009 in News
A 23-year-old man has today been jailed for life for the murder of 32-year-old Saeed Hassan at a house in Hulme.
Bashir Awil Muhumed, aged 23, of Spring Lane, Radcliffe, was found guilty of murder following a trial at Manchester Crown Court Crown Square.
He will serve a minimum of 20 years in prison.
Saeed and Muhumed are both originally from Somalia and were friends. Saeed moved to Britain about six years ago and for the past four years had lived in a flat on Bronte Street, Hulme with a third man, Ahmed Shidi, also a friend to both the victim and defendant.
Muhumed met Saeed and Ahmed at The Dubay Caffe, which is owned by Saeed's family on Wednesday January 7, before going back to Saeed's flat.
The three of them watched television before Ahmed left to go shopping at about 11.30pm.
He returned to find Saeed seriously injured. He asked Muhumed, who was also injured what had happened, to which he replied, "Ambulance."
Police and ambulance crews were called. Saeed was found to be dead at the scene and Muhumed was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries.
A Home Office post mortem examination concluded Saeed died from multiple stab wounds.
Muhumed also suffered stab wounds in the incident and spent several weeks in hospital. An examination of those injuries indicated that they were self-inflicted.
He was released from hospital on February 4 and subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder.
Throughout interview Muhumed claimed he had been watching TV when Saeed unexpectedly attacked him with a knife. He told officers he overpowered Saeed and stabbed him in self-defence.
A witness interviewed by police said she was on the phone to Saeed the evening he died. She said she had been speaking with him when she suddenly heard him shout, "Stop, stop."
She then said she heard the phone fall to the floor and Saeed moaning a short time later she heard someone buzz the flat's intercom. This was Mr. Shidi returning from the shop.
Senior Investigating Officer, Vincent Chadwick, said: "Muhumed claimed to be acting in self defence, but this conviction proves otherwise.
"He has repeatedly refused to accept what he has done.
"He was supposed to be a friend of Saeed, but for whatever reason violently attacked and killed him and we may never know exactly what prompted such a vicious assault.
"Saeed's family are totally devastated by the loss of their brother."
