Three jailed for ‘horrific’ killing while robbing flat
THREE men who left their bloodstained victim in a cupboard to die after a “calculated and horrific attack” have been jailed.
Shafiul Islam, 22, died in hospital six days after receiving at least three “heavy blows to the head with a glass Kopparberg bottle” and being left in a “ransacked flat”.
Mr Islam, from Tewkesbury Walk in the Shaftesbury area of Newport, was found with serious head injuries in his home at about 11.55pm on November 14, 2019.
Conlan Dunnion, Euan Peters and Perrie Dunwell were charged with conspiring to rob their victim in Newport on November 14 and murdering him on November 20, 2019. All three men denied the murder charge and stood trial at Newport Crown Court.
Peters, 42, of Dros-Y-Morfa, Rumney, Cardiff, was found guilty of murder. Dunnion, 23, of Maesglas Avenue, Newport, and Dunwell, 33, of Cold Mill Road, Newport, were both found guilty of manslaughter.
Peters admitted a single charge of conspiracy to rob Mr Islam while the other two defendants were found guilty of the same offence.
In the trial last month it was heard Mr Islam’s death had been the result of a planned robbery by the three defendants. Mark Wyeth QC, prosecuting, said Mr Islam was their target because he was a drug dealer.
During yesterday’s sentencing a powerful impact victim statement was read in court written on behalf of Mr Islam’s mother by her daughters describing him as a “kind” and “shy” boy who became involved with some “bad influences” while in school.
At the age of 13 the difficult decision was made for Mr Islam to go into care as a result of his actions but he kept in close contact with his family.
The statement, read by Mr Wyeth, said: “We were told Shafiul had been hurt and was in hospital. We did not realise at the time just how serious it was. We thought he would be OK.
“The doctor told us Shafiul’s brain had been so damaged that there was little they could do. We were all so upset seeing him like that – he didn’t look like Shafiul any more. Lots of our family came. We were hopeful for a few days that a miracle might happen but we knew as the days drew on that it would not happen.
“Mum stayed in the hospital with Shafiul the whole time and did not go home. When the doctor said to mum that we needed to turn off the life support machine that was keeping Shafiul alive mum was devastated and said no, she could not do it.”
Describing the day of Shafiul’s death, the statement said: “Mum came and told us. She was crying – everyone just broke down crying. Our two brothers were also there – they were trying to be strong but were upset also.
“Everyone was crying and praying for him. This is the first time for us as a family to lose someone so close.”
Speaking of the trial Mr Islam’s mother added: “Going to court every day to watch the trial has made us have to relive it all.
“It was horrific sitting through all the evidence as all the defendants were denying it. They were all saying different things – we felt as if we will never really know the full story of what happened to Shafiul.”
The court also heard of Mr Islam’s last moments with his family after visiting his mother near his birthday.
Mr Wyeth said: “He said ‘I love you’ as he went out the door and hugged [his mother]. That is mum’s last memory of her son, her first born, being alive.”
The statement added: “Everyone is still coming to terms with Shafiul dying. Because we did not get to see him much in our childhood we could have had so many more memories with him. We were hoping when we were older we would see him more and we would become closer.
“We feel like people have taken that away from us.”
Sentencing the defendants, Mrs Justice
Jefford said Mr Islam had suffered “catastrophic” brain injuries as a result of the attack upon him.
She said: “His family had to watch him die slowly until his life support had to be turned off.”
Patrick Harrington QC, representing Peters, said “it would be a step too far” to suggest that his client had a proven intention to kill Mr Islam.
He said: “It was not a plan put in place that serious harm should be occasioned during the course of what was a planned robbery.”
In total Peters was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum sentence of 33 years for the murder of Mr Islam and 14 years and three months for conspiring to rob him. Both sentences will be served concurrently.
Caroline Rees QC, for Dunnion, described the defendant as a
“young” man with no previous aggravating convictions.
A letter written by the defendant was given to the judge which Ms Rees described as showing “deep remorse” and a “great deal of reflection as to what happened”.
Dunnion was sentenced to nine years and six months for manslaughter and seven years for conspiring to rob Mr Islam. Both sentences will be served concurrently.
Paul Lewis QC, for Dunwell, also said his client had shown “genuine” remorse for his actions and provided a positive reference from a prison officer about his performance. It was heard Dunwell now mentors other inmates to help them with their literacy.
Mr Lewis said there had been no plan to kill or seriously injure Mr Islam and that Dunwell’s intention to harm Mr Islam had only formed during the course of the robbery, independently of the other two men.
Dunwell was sentenced to 13 years and nine months for the manslaughter of Mr Islam and 13 years for conspiring to rob his victim. Both sentences will be served concurrently.
A statement on behalf of Mr Islam’s family released by Gwent Police after the hearing said: “Shafiul was so young and his death was so unexpected. It did not need to happen. It was brutal. “Going to court every day to watch the trial has made us have to relive it all. We have seen how much Shafiul suffered from the attack and how calculated it was.
“We will never know the truth of what happened because they have all given different accounts to hide their involvement and that is so difficult to accept.
“We will all remember Shafiul as a son, brother and nephew who remained strong and would always be happy and smiling.
“We pray that he is in a better place and that he is resting.”
Senior investigating officer detective superintendent Nick Wilkie said: “This was a horrific and calculated attack of a young man in his own home late at night. Shafiul Islam was victim of a robbery involving significant violence which resulted in him tragically losing his life...
“The death of Shafiul has had a devastating impact on his family and friends and our thoughts remain with them.”
Shafiul Islam was victim of a robbery involving significant violence which resulted in him tragically losing his life
DS Nick Wilkie