Cousins are jailed for ‘ brutal’ killing

TWO COUSINS who killed a man in an “appallingly violent” attack after wrongly accusing him of stealing a bike have been jailed.

Mikhail Hanid, 47, suffered multiple stab wounds after being confronted by Curtis Ford, 28, and Samuel Ford, 30, near his home in Weston- super- Mare, Somerset, on June 27 last year.

Mr Hanid, described by a judge as a “warm, kind- hearted and interesting human being”, was taken to hospital but died three days later despite undergoing operations and receiving intensive care treatment.

Curtis Ford later pleaded guilty to murdering Mr Hanid while Samuel Ford was convicted of manslaughter following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.

During the trial, it emerged that Samuel Ford had used racist language to describe Mr Hanid in a text message sent before the attack.

Judge Peter Blair QC, the Recorder of Bristol, jailed Curtis Ford for life and ordered him to serve a minimum of 26 years in prison.

The judge jailed Samuel Ford for nine years, with an additional three years on licence.

Describing the attack on Mr Hanid, Judge Blair said: “He was brutally killed by an appallingly violent knife attack upon him last June in Weston- super- Mare.

“It was an utterly senseless act by Curtis Ford.”

In statements read to the court, Mr Hanid’s family described him as a caring brother, son and uncle. They said he would never have stolen a bicycle and had been killed in a “brutal, thoughtless and hateful attack” and that he was a much- loved member of the family.