A man has been jailed for life for the murder of innocent student Aya Hachem.
Louis Otway, 42, was yesterday (May 4) convicted for his role in the botched murder plot which saw Aya, 19, killed by a stray bullet in King Street. At Preston Crown Court today, he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years.
As Otway, of Clitheroe Road, Manchester, was sent down, he shouted 'I'm innocent, this is a miscarriage of justice!'', LancsLive reports. Aya, a promising University of Salford student, was caught in the crossfire of a feud between rival tyre firms on Sunday May 17, 2020.
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When hostility flared up between RI Tyres and Quick Shine car wash, Otway was called in to help settle a score. Feroz Suleman, who ran RI Tyres, called upon Otway to help orchestrate the shooting of Pashah Khan, who ran Quick Shine next door.
However the plot went wrong and Aya was wrongfully shot. The student was an innocent bystander, who was walking to a nearby shop to buy food to break the Ramadan fast with her family.
Otway was convicted of her murder and the attempted murder of Mr Khan. Although he protested his innocence as he was sent down, in a statement read by his defence barrister in court today he said: "I want to make it clear I understand the severity of the crime for which I stand accused and have been convicted.
"I appreciate the gravity of the situation. a young girl lost her life and I can not understand the pain and sorrow they have been through. I have seven children and I can not imagine the pain of anything like this happening to them. My heart goes out to the family."
Sentencing Otway to life, Judge Mr Justice Jacobs said: "You have told lies from the start. Your conviction is the result of an impressive and painstaking police investigation."
He added: "Although you, Otway, were not in Blackburn on the day of the shooting because you took steps to be away, you were part of it. Suleman and Hussain had no experience of arranging a contract killing. You, a drug dealer were called upon.
"Ayaz Hussain was an associate of yours. He knew of your familiarity with drug dealing and with the veiolent people oftenused in enforcement.
"I am sure that Ennis and Raja were people you used as enforcers. A video on your phone showed you laughing and joking with them in May 2020, while the killing was being planned.
"The plan needed people not from Blackburn who could make a quick getaway. You made visits to Blackburn and met up with Feroz Suleman, as well as Hussain, Ennis and Raja.
"Ennis and Hussain were in contact with you after the shooting. After the shooting you tried to put distance between you and the shooting.
"You asked a friend to join you on a completely unnecessary journey to Birmingham during lockdown. You tried to put distance between you and the plan.
"The plan went badly wrong. the first shot hit, the second hit Aya, who was walking beside Quickshine. Passers by tried to help her but she died almost instantly."
Seven others who were involved in the conspiracy were previously jailed for their roles. Feroz Suleman, Zamir Raja, Anthony Ennis, Ayaz Hussain, Abubakr Satia, Uthman Satia and Kashif Manzoor were all jailed after being found guilty of murder and attempted murder in a trial last year.
Uthman Satia's girlfriend, Judy Chapman, was also jailed after being convicted of manslaughter. Following Otway's conviction, Det Insp Ian Moore, of the Lancashire Constabulary's Force Major Investigation Team, said: "Aya Hachem was a young woman whose life – so full of promise – was brutally and tragically cut short on that May afternoon and my thoughts today are first and foremost with her family and loved ones.
"Louis Otway played a key role in organising the plot to kill Pachah Khan, the bungled execution of which resulted in Aya’s murder, and I would like to thank the jury and the prosecution team for ensuring that he too has been convicted along with those found guilty last year. I hope that this offers Aya’s family some sense that we have achieved justice for her and that this shows that Lancashire Constabulary will never give up in our tenacious approach to putting those who commit these atrocious crimes before the courts."
Alan Richardson, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West’s Complex Casework Unit said: "Junior Louis Otway played a part in the senseless killing of Law student Aya Hachem – a young woman with her whole life ahead of her. He was the key link between the offenders from Blackburn and the offenders from Manchester and helped to organise the shooting.
"The Crown Prosecution Service worked hard with Lancashire’s Major Investigation Team to deliver Justice for Ms Hachem’s family. Meticulous investigation, evidence gathering, and case building has led to Otway being found guilty of the part he played in Aya’s death in addition to the seven previously convicted.
"My thoughts are with Aya Hachem’s family and friends."
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