02 October 2023 , 20:43
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A murderer killed a young man in a "cold-blooded execution" which was a tragic case of mistaken identity.
Jervais Boyaram, 37, shot dead Muhammed Sohail outside the victim's address in the belief Mr Sohail, 26, was one of a group of young men he had a confronted at a petrol station earlier in the night, who had left him feeling "disrespected".
Mr Sohail, who has recently married, was blasted in the face on February 18, 2022, and died of his injuries. His killer hunted him down, not realising he was driving a different model of car to the one involved in the earlier altercation.
Jervais Boyaram shoots Muhammed Sohail (West Midlands Police / SWNS)And following a trial at Coventry Crown Court, Boyaram was found guilty of murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life. The murderer was jailed to life with a minimum of 31 years, Birmingham Live reports.
Sentencing Boyaram, Judge Francis Laird KC said: "I'm satisfied your intention was to kill Muhammed Sohail and that it was quite simply a cold blooded execution of a man you mistakenly believed had disrespected you earlier that evening."
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The initial incident occurred at a petrol station in Saltley, Birmingham, at around 10.40pm. Four men were travelling in a silver Volkswagen Jetta while Boyaram, who is a father, was in a black Smart car. One member of the group gave evidence at the trial.
Armed police arrested Jervais Boyaram in his flat in Solihull, West Midlands (West Midlands Police / SWNS)Judge Laird said: "He told the jury in the course of an argument you said to him: 'I'm Indian from Shango's'. Indian is your street name. Shango's is a shop you frequented. Following that confrontation you felt angry and disrespected."
The court heard Boyaram returned to the Shango's shop and collected a gun from the boot of a jeep parked outside. He then "toured the area three times" looking for the men and, at around 11.25pm, he saw Mr Sohail drive past in a silver Volkswagen Passat. Judge Laird said: "You mistakenly believed the car was the Volkswagen Jetta and its driver was one of the four men. You began to pursue Mr Sohail to Wright Road."
He added: "As he looked for a parking space a black Smart car driven by you pulled alongside his car. You put down the driver's side window and pointed a self-loading pistol at Mr Sohail and you shot him in the face at very close range. It is believed Mr Sohail died instantaneously but his body was not discovered until early the following morning."
The gunman shot an innocent man, Muhammed Sohail, who had recently got married (West Midlands Police / SWNS)Afterwards, Boyaram drove to his girlfriend's home where he left the Smart car. He disposed of the gun which has not been recovered. He was later dramatically arrested at gunpoint at his flat in Solihull, West Midlands, by armed police. Boyaram has previous convictions for possession of firearms and was on licence at the time of the killing.
Judge Laird added: "In mitigation you had a difficult and disruptive home life as a child. You are the father of a child and when you were last in custody you strived to gain an education."
Following Boyaram's conviction Mr Muhammed's father said: "My son Muhammed Sohail was purely innocent in this matter and had his life taken so needlessly and without any reason. He will be missed by all of us forevermore."