Murderer loses bid for early release

A man who murdered his love rival and wasn’t brought to justice for 20 years has failed to win a cut in his minimum jail term at London’s High Court.

Bashir Ahmed (52), from Oldham, was convicted of murdering Anthony Price at Manchester Crown Court in September, 2001.

Mr Price was the husband of Ahmed’s lover. On April 6, 1981, he was battered to death and his body dismembered into 22 pieces and placed in bin bags.

The offence probably took place at Warwick Street, Oldham, where a friend of Ahmed’s lived.

Mr Price’s remains were found on April 22, 1981, in the Woodhead Reservoir, near a road bridge which ran across the water.

After his conviction, Ahmed was jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 14 years behind bars.

Yesterday, after reviewing Ahmed’s case at London’s High Court, Mr Justice Akenhead said 14 years was the minimum he deserved and, were he being sentenced today under tougher guidelines now in force, he would have received a “tariff” of between 15 and 17 years. Lawyers for Ahmed argued that he has expressed remorse for the murder and was not seeking to evade justice when he moved to America shortly after the killing. Questioned by police when Mr Price’s body was found, but released without charge, Ahmed went to the USA and became a naturalised citizen. He has two children in the States.

Mr Justice Akenhead said that the murder was “carefully planned and executed” and almost no traces were left behind which linked Ahmed to the killing.

The only clue was a fingerprint in blood on the lid of the trunk in which the victim’s body had been placed.

Adding that Ahmed had inflicted “gratuitous violence to a wholly innocent man,” Mr Justice Akenhead said that, although there were mitigating features, they were outweighed by the premeditation and violence involved.

Given the time he spent on remand, the ruling means Ahmed will be eligible for parole in 2015.

However, he will only then be freed if he can convince the Parole Board he no longer poses a danger to society.