The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
PizzA DElivEry killErs ArE ‘Evil’ sAys wiDow
Two men jailed for total of 22 years for manslaughter of Ali Qasemi Driver was killed by one punch in robbery
Two men who robbed a pizza delivery driver and left him for dead in a city street have been described as ‘pure evil’ by their victim’s widow. Father of twoAliQasemi- who was expecting his third child - was killed by Joel Lawson and Mark Lintott in a botched robberyinMayatShrewsbury Court in Orton Longueville, Peterborough.
OnFridayLintottwasjailed for 13 years, while Lawsonwas locked up for nine years at a hearing at Cambridge Crown Court.
Fa wz i a Qa s e m i , M r Qasemi’s widow, gave a statement in court where she described the two men as ‘pure evil. She said: “I will never be able to forgive them. They are pure evil.”
The court heard Ali had arrived in England from Afghanistan. Mrs Qasemi said: “Ali was a refugee who came here for a better life. He ran awayfromconflict, buthewas killed here trying to earn a living. Nomatterhowfaryourun to get away from waryoucan’t get away from evil.”
She said the family was still coming to terms with his death. She said: “There really aren’t the words to explain how much I miss Ali. He was the backbone of our family.
“Ali was such a nice man, gentle, calm and kind. He was always there to help friends and family.”
Her third son was born in September, and she said her othertwosons, agedsevenand 11, were still coming to terms with the loss. Shesaid: “Ali did everything for the boys. He took them to school, cooked them dinner and washed them.
“The boys say they miss him, and the way he washed them and told them stories.
“Whentheyareinthe bath I wait till they are shampooing their hair so their eyes are closed, and I silently cry.”
Judge David Farrell said: “You robbed a family of a fa- ther and a wife of her husband. You robbed them of a hardworkingandmuchloved man.”
He added: “No sentence I can impose can truly reflect the loss suffered by the family.”
Lintott (29) of Shrewsbury Court, Peterborough, wassentencedtosix years for robbery and 13 years for manslaughter to be served concurrently. Lawson(25) of HMPPeterborough was sentenced to fourand-a-half years for robbery, nine years for manslaughter and seven days for possession of cannabis to be served concurrently. Lawson pleaded guilty to all offences, while Lintottwasconvictedatatrial. Ali Qasemi was killed while hewasworkingforPizzaHut.
He had been called to deliver pizzas to Shrewsbury Court by Mark Lintott - however, Lintott gave a false address to the London Road takeaway.
He and Lawson had plotted to carry out a ‘snatch and grab’ to take the pizzas from the delivery driver.
When Mr Qasemi arrived at the city street in the early hoursofMay8, herealisedthe addresshehadbeengivendid not exist - and called Lintott’s phone.
Lintott and Lawson then cameoutof the property, and crept up on Mr Qasemi.
Lawson punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground.
The pair then grabbed the three pizzas, worth £52, and went back to Lintott’s flat, where they continued to drink and take cocaine.
Mr Qasemi suffered a brokencheekboneandfractured skull when he fell. His body was spotted by a passer-by, and he was taken to hospital. HediedonMay10, despite the best efforts of surgeons and paramedics.
Both Lawson and Lintott deniedtheoffenceinpoliceinterview, but Lawson changed his plea, and pleaded guilty to all offences in court.
He would go on to give evidence against Lintott at the trial at Peterborough Crown Court - and he was given a reducedsentencebecauseofhis plea and co-operation.
However, Judge Farrell said Lintott had shown no remorse since the crime - and even laughed and joked about it in the flat.
Cambridge Crown Court was also told both men had been convicted of violent offences in the past.
“You robbed a family of a father and a wife of a husband.” Judge Farrell