Derbyshire gunman who killed have-a-go-hero boss during botched robbery jailed for life for murder

Tahir Zarif, 29, shot Akhtar Javeed as he bravely tried to fight off two gunmen during a raid at his cash-and-carry six years ago. The 56-year-old was tied up before he was shot in the foot, leg, throat and mouth at the Direct Source 3 warehouse in Digbeth, Birmingham on February 3, 2016.

The have-a-go-hero businessman collapsed in the street and died after choking on his own blood while the robbers escaped in a getaway car empty-handed.

Zarif fled the UK days later but was finally tracked down and detained by police in Mirpur on January 17, 2018 following two years on the run. Video footage captured the moment the fugitive killer was taken off a plane in handcuffs by police after being extradited back to Britain last year. He can be seen smiling at the camera as he was arrested by officers on board the flight from Pakistan to London.

Police also released chilling footage of Zarif shooting a machine gun in Pakistan a year earlier while laughing and saying: "That's buzzing, that is."

Zarif, from Derby, was extradited back to the UK to face justice and was found guilty of murder at Coventry Crown Court in November last year.

This weekhe was jailed for life and ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years behind bars. He was also caged for 18 years for conspiracy to rob and seven years for two firearms offences. They will be served concurrently with his life sentence. The court heard the raid went wrong as the gang threatened Mr Javeed, and ordered him to give up the company’s takings.

CCTV footage shows staff being held hostage at gunpoint, while Zarif led Mr Javeed from the office into the reception where he shot him in the leg as a violent warning to open the safe. Bravely, he managed to escape before stumbling across the car park to the pavement where he collapsed and died in a pool of his own blood.

Detectives trawled CCTV to trace their movements in the hours before and after the robbery, corroborating the images with mobile phone data and ANPR captures.

A jury heard in 2016 how one of the gang - a former disgruntled employee at Direct Source 3 - drew a plan of the warehouse so the robbers knew exactly where to go once inside. Three men were jailed in September 2016 for a total of 40 years for their part in the armed robbery.

Suraj Misty, 26, was caged for 23 years for manslaughter, while Lamar Wali, 23, and Sander van Aalten, 54, were jailed for seven years and six years eight months, respectively, for conspiracy to commit robbery.

Police worked with the National Crime Agency, CPS, Foreign Office, the British High Commission in Pakistan and the Pakistani authorities to track down the final suspect Zarif.

Speaking after the 2016 convictions, Lilas - Mr Javeed’s daughter − said: “I do not want us to forget that there is still one outstanding perpetrator on the run, as it stands, literally getting away with murder.

"I have faith that the justice system will do its best to bring him back and bring him to justice. I would be saddened to think he has got away with it as what message would that give to society?"

Now, speaking on behalf of the family, she added: “It’s been six years and nine months since my father’s life was taken by Tahir Zarif. My father has been in our thoughts every day since. As I have said before my father was an honourable gentleman.

"Another man’s greed led to my father’s unlawful death. We are grateful to West Midlands Police for their hard work in ensuring justice is served.”

Detective Inspector Ranj Sangha, of West Midlands Police, added: “Despite most of the gang being jailed for this horrific crime back in 2016, we refused to rest until Zarif, who fired the fatal shots, was brought to justice.

“We worked really closely with partners in this country and in Pakistan to get this result, and I hope Mr Akhtar’s family can get some sense of closure from today.”