TikTok murderer's accomplice raped teen girl before trial for killing two men

07 August 2023 , 08:09

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Raees Jamal was among four people who were found guilty of murder by a jury at Leicester Crown Court (Image: BPM Media)

The accomplice of TikTok influencer Mahek Bukhari had been convicted of rape before being found guilty of murder, but it was not allowed to be reported until now in order to ensure a fair trial.

Raees Jamal was among four people who were found guilty of murder by a jury at Leicester Crown Court following a 50-day trial. Saqib Hussain and Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin died when their car left the A46 dual carriageway near Leicester on February 11, 2022, with prosecutors saying they were deliberately rammed off the road.

Jurors deliberated for more than 28 hours before returning a verdict finding YouTube and TikTok content creator Mahek Bukhari and her mother Ansreen Bukhari guilty of two counts of murder. Police said messages found between Ansreen and Mahek showed the influencer told her mum: "I'll get him jumped by guys and he won’t know what day it is." Fellow defendants Rekhan Karwan and Raees Jamal were also found guilty of two counts of murder. Three of their accomplices were found guilty of manslaughter.

A Seat Leon and Skoda Fabia following a car driven by Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin and Saqib Hussain (PA)

It can now be reported that Jamal had been convicted last year for raping a 17-year-old girl at his home in Loughborough. The trial for that crime took place before the TikTok trial and to ensure fair verdicts in the murder trial, the jury was not told of the rape case and the press were not allowed to report it.

Jamal was sentenced for the rape at Leicester Crown Court in August 2022 and was given 10 years behind bars. During that hearing, the judge urged Jamal's young rape victim not to blame herself, reports Leicestershire Live.

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The court heard Jamal and the girl had gone out in Loughborough town centre and afterwards, he invited his victim to his home to watch a film just a few days after she had turned 17. Jamal's parents who were at the house when she arrived, went off to work a night shift and Jamal took the girl upstairs to watch a film he was "pestering" her for some time before trapping her under him and attacking her.

YouTube and TikTok content creator Mahek Bukhari lied to police during her interview (Police handout)

Judge Robert Brown told Jamal's victim's family members, who were in court for the sentencing: "She is a victim. She must not think she did anything to cause this rape. She did not. Tell her that from me. I hope it helps her come to terms with this."

Daren Samat, prosecuting, said the girl had been 16 when Jamal started chatting to her on social media. Describing the day of the rape he said: "They went upstairs to watch a film and within minutes the defendant began to pester her. She said she didn't want that. She said no several times and tried to persuade him physically."

In a letter to police about how the crime had affected her, the victim said she had tried to kill herself and she remained "haunted" by what had happened, as well as being left with the scars of her suicide attempt. She said in the letter: "It's been two years since the rape happened and I still, to this day, get haunted. I've never felt so isolated and most nights I cry myself to sleep. I haven't learned how to live with this." Mr Samat said: "There is psychological harm here and grooming, via social media, over the course of about six months."

Mahek Bukhari (right) and her mother Ansreen Bukhari arrive at Leicester Crown Court (PA)

Ayoub Khan, representing Jamal, tried to argue there had not been any grooming and that the attack had not been sustained but the judge rejected both those statements. The judge told Jamal: "When she met you she did not have sex in mind and did not want intimacy in that early stage of your relationship. I think it is justified to describe it as sustained. She was trapped. She was pinned on the bed and you overpowered her. She was not egging you on - she repeatedly said 'no' and 'stop it' and tried to push you off.

"She has undergone severe psychological harm." His sentence for the rape is likely to be eclipsed by whatever minimum term the judge decides in the murder case. As well as being jailed for the rape, Jamal was given a lifetime restraining order to keep him from contacting his victim and will be on the sex offenders register for life. Jamal will be back in court on Friday, September 1, to be sentenced for the murder.

Tom Mack