A man who claimed he tried to ‘steer clear’ of the violence surrounding him as a child is now in jail for killing a man.
Badri Issa was just 22-years-old when he was stabbed to death by Raami Mohamed on the evening of October 25, 2023. Mr Issa, who hoped to become a mechanical engineer, was heading to the gym with his pal Omar Jeylaani when Mohamed gestured to his friend to pull over into a lay-by in Moss Side.
Manchester Crown Court heard Mohamed and Jeylaani had previously been in a dispute over a car and, after stopping, the pair became involved in a stand-off. Mr Issa, acting as a peacemaker, got in between them and told them to ‘chill’. Riding as passenger, Kevell Blake, 21, also got out of the car and began fighting with Jeylaani.
Within two minutes, Mohamed pulled a knife and stabbed Mr Issa in the chest. Both Mohamed and Blake immediately fled the scene, with Mohamed dumping his phone, the knife and his clothes. They then took a taxi to Birmingham to meet a solicitor. Mr Issa sadly died later that night.
Following a trial in May last year, Mohamed was found guilty of murder. Blake was convicted of manslaughter, with prosecutors stating he ‘assisted and encouraged’ Mohamed in the killing.
Kevell Blake was jailed for eight years
On June 7, Mohamed was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years. Following a referral to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme on September 6, Mohamed was resentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 21 years and 145 days.
Today, January 10, Blake was jailed for eight years, of which he will serve two thirds of the term in prison before being released on licence.
In a statement previously read by Mr Issa’s brother, Gulad, he said ‘a light went out’ in his and his family’s lives on the evening of October 25. “Our lives were engulfed in darkness. Normal life ceased to exist for us when we lost our loved brother, Badri,” he said.
“He was the anchor to our family – the one who held us together and always put others before him without a moment’s hesitation. He was the person we all turned to for support and wisdom and guidance.
Badri Issa
(Image: GMP)
“We never imagined our family would be destroyed by the kind of senseless violence that has become all too commonplace. How many more families will have to endure this pain? How many more dreams must come to an end, just like Badri. All because of inhumane, selfish and cowardice actions. This cycle of violence must end.”
‘Background of hostility’
The court previously heard there had been a ‘background of hostility’ between Mr Jeylaani and Mohamed following a dispute over a Volkswagen Polo which Mohamed had rented from a firm said to be linked to Mr Jeylaani. Mohamed didn’t pay the agreed sum and said he was ‘going to keep the car’.
Mr Jeylaani discovered the car parked on a street in Cheetham Hill about two weeks before Mr Issa’s murder, and ‘repossessed’ the car with the help of three associates. It was then on October 25, when the pair passed each other in a ‘chance encounter’, that the tragic events unfolded.
Raami Mohamed
(Image: PA)
Jurors found that whilst Blake did not actively stab Mr Issa, he instead ‘encouraged’ the stabbing as he was ‘aware there was a knife’.
Alexander Leach KC, mitigating, said the incident was ‘fast moving’ and ‘unplanned’. “The animosity that underpins this was with Mohamed. Mr Blake’s only involvement was to be chased from the scene days earlier and offered violence to himself, and he did not offer it back,” the barrister said.
“He was a slow and secondary participant – he had no contact with Badri Issa himself.”
The court heard that Blake had grown up in Cheetham Hill, an area known for its struggles with youth violence, and he had actively sought out youth groups and football coaching in order to steer clear from ‘unwanted trouble’.
Blake had penned a letter to the court, which read: “If I could turn back the hands of time, I would have done things differently. From the bottom of my heart, I am sincerely sorry and I apologise to Mr Issa’s family.
“Growing up in Cheetham Hill, I made a conscious decision to avoid this behaviour. I actively participated in youth services to stay clear of unwanted trouble.”
“Tragically you became involved in that very trouble you tried to avoid,” judge Elizabeth Nicholls said.
Blake, of Bromshill Drive, is now behind bars. As he was led down to the cells a member of his family said: “Love you, son.”
‘My thoughts will always remain with his family and friends, who have had to endure so much’
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Naismith, said: “This has been a long and difficult time for the family of Badri Issa, as they have had to wait several months for the second part of this investigation.
“I’d like to thank the investigations team for the painstaking work they have put into seeking justice for Badri’s family and loved ones.
“Badri tragically lost his life as he tried to keep the peace and de-escalate a situation. My thoughts will always remain with his family and friends, who have had to endure so much.
“As Badri’s family try to move on to some kind of normality with their lives, I hope this sentence can bring them a sense of closure knowing that both of his killers are behind bars, though it will never be enough to replace Badri, nor lessen their pain from his loss.”
Jayne Sharp, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the CPS, said: “Badri Issa was an unarmed peacemaker who got caught in the crossfire as he tried to de-escalate a volatile situation and tragically lost his life.
“Far from being remorseful, Raami Mohamed and Kevell Blake fled the scene leaving Mr Issa to die. They further sought to evade justice by disposing of the knife and the car.
“Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Mr Issa and all those who have been affected by his death.”