Son of pensioner killed by teens brands sentence 'a disgrace' (From Your Local Guardian)

Ekram Haque's son condemns sentence given to Tooting teens by Old Bailey judge

2:47pm Monday 26th July 2010 in Wandsworth By Ian Mason

Happier times: Tooting pensioner Ekram Haque with three-year-old granddaughter Miriam

The son of a pensioner who was killed by two teenagers on a happy slapping spree said justice had not been served after they were jailed today.

Tooting teens Leon Elcock, 16, of Osborne Terrace, and Hamza Lyzai, 15, of Franciscan Road, were locked up for four-and-a-half years and three-and-a-half years respectively after both pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 67-year-old grandfather Ekram Haque.

But speaking outside the Old Bailey, Mr Haque’s son Arfan - whose three-year-old daughter Miriam was forced to watch the unprovoked attack on her “papa” - condemned the sentences.

He said: “I feel really let down. The CPS really need to buck up their ideas because people are getting away with murder.

“My father is dead - it’s just a disgrace.”

Tooting MP, Sadiq Khan, promised to write to the Attorney General urging him to use his powers to appeal the sentence.

He said: "The local community will be shocked by the leniency of these sentences.

“Bearing in mind the devastating impact their actions had on their victims and their families, it's surprising that the punishments are so light.”

A third teenager, a 15-year-old who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also sentenced along with Elcock and Lyzai for his part in four assaults carried out before the attack on Mr Haque. He was given a six-month detention and training order.

Along with Elcock, the teen launched an attack on an elderly couple in their 70s inside their home on August 26, last year.

Five days later, all three embarked on a happy slapping rampage outside the Idara-e-Jafferiya mosque. Atta Mir, 74 and from Ewell, and Imdad Bukhai, a 39-year-old from Thornton Heath, were both punched as the trio made their way down the street.

CCTV footage was shown which captured the moment when Elcock and Lyzai rushed past Mr Haque throwing punches.

The 67-year-old fell back and cracked his head on the ground - he died a week later in hospital having suffered “irreparable brain damage”.

Miriam was seen rushing over to her grandfather but was swiftly taken to safety by concerned witnesses.

Judge Martin Stephens said: “As a result of your so-called bit of fun [Mr Haque] was deprived of a full and contented life and his family of a devoted, inspiring and beloved father and grandfather.”

Prosecuting, Brian Altman QC read out a statement written by Arfan, which said: “After the attack on my father Miriam was very traumatised. She was scared of people wearing hoods and was frightened after dark.

“Miriam would regularly have nightmares and she kept saying she missed her papa - they had a very special relationship.

“Even after this time she still talks about my father.

“Due to the attack the special relationship will never blossom, I fell this is a dreadful loss.”

It concluded: “I hope the boys who did this to my father realise the gravity of what they've done.

“I hope they reflect on their actions when they serve their sentence and repent and become better individuals - this is what my father will have wanted.”

After the attack, police discovered a mobile phone in the 15-year-old’s house, which contained several happy slapping videos made by the teenagers under the name Lane Gang Productions.

Judge Stephens agreed to lift the ban on identifying Elcock and Lyzai to deter other youths “who may be tempted to indulge in such appalling behaviour”.

In addition to the manslaughter charge, Elcock admitted four counts of causing actual bodily harm while Lyzai pleaded guilty to two counts of ABH.