A modern British murder

[DeadlyVenom]

On the few occasions the quiet and self-effacing Bijan Ebrahimi ventured outside his drab council maisonette on the outskirts of Bristol, it was to tend to his flower baskets. He did not work – he had a back problem and was registered disabled – so his focus was on his cat and his garden.

His interest in horticulture provided him with his greatest pleasure, but also played a significant role in his death. When Mr Ebrahimi saw local youths apparently vandalising his flowers, he took pictures of them. It was a decision that would lead to his being wrongly branded a paedophile by his neighbours. One was so incensed by his alleged crime that he beat Mr Ebrahimi unconscious, and, with the help of a friend, set him alight after dousing him with white spirit.

The two men will be sentenced next month after admitting their roles in the death of the 44-year-old Iranian national, who was described by his family as a “caring, loving and unselfish man”. Three police officers have also been suspended as an inquiry continues into how the Avon and Somerset force dealt with Mr Ebrahimi’s requests for help after the abuse began. Six civilian call handlers are set to be questioned by the police complaints watchdog as it investigates whether his cries for help were taken seriously. Bristol City Council, which housed Mr Ebrahimi, has launched its own inquiry into what went wrong.

Police went to Mr Ebrahimi’s home at Capgrave Crescent, Brislington, on 11 July after he called them to complain of damage to his flowers and harassment. When the officers arrived, a group of neighbours emerged to tell them that he had been taking pictures of children.

On several occasions, Mr Ebrahimi ignored officers’ requests to stay inside his home and instead confronted the group outside, according to the police watchdog. He was finally arrested on suspicion of breaching the peace and was taken away as a crowd taunted him with cries of “paedo, paedo”, witnesses said.

Mr Ebrahimi would be interviewed and released without further action. Police would also confirm later that he had not taken any indecent images and nothing of concern had been found on his computer. But his removal had set in motion the chain of events that would lead to his death. Feelings in the community were running high, with rumours spreading that Mr Ebrahimi had been burnt out of his previous local authority home. The council last night declined to comment, citing its ongoing investigation.

Mr Ebrahimi was released from police custody on 12 July. Two days later he was dead.

Lee James, 24, who lived two doors away with his young family, threatened on the night that Mr Ebrahimi was arrested that he would take the law into his own hands, prosecutors said.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Bristol Post: “[On the night Mr Ebrahimi was arrested] everyone came out and they were calling him a paedophile. When we went into the close it was very hostile – they wanted him moved out. There were about 20 people out there all having a say. They had him down as a 100 per cent paedophile. When the police took him away everyone was cheering. Then he got released back into that.”

Police are being investigated to see whether more could have been done to protect Mr Ebrahimi Police are being investigated to see whether more could have been done to protect Mr Ebrahimi

Police face investigation over why Mr Ebrahimi was the only person arrested during the initial confrontation. The investigation will also focus on the days between his release from custody and his murder.

In the early hours of 14 July, Lee James beat Mr Ebrahimi unconscious and, with the help of his next-door neighbour Stephen Norley, dragged him from his home. Norley then went to fetch some white spirit and Mr Ebrahimi’s body was set alight. The killing was spotted by three teenagers who were camping out on a nearby patch of grass at the height of the summer heatwave. James had told at least one other person that Mr Ebrahimi had taken photographs of children in the crescent, setting off the baseless rumour that he was a paedophile.

Bristol council declined to say on Monday whether Mr Ebrahimi had made any complaints about the damage to his flowers, and if he had, how its representatives had responded. “We are looking into all our dealings with this person,” said a spokesman. “We are reviewing all contacts with the tenants.”

Other residents living in the block where Mr Ebrahimi lived have been asking to move. “Whoever started those rumours now has to live with that. He wasn’t a paedophile and he’s now dead. That’s a hell of a thing to have on your conscience,” said one.

James, who has admitted murder, and Norley, also 24, who has admitted to assisting an offender, will be sentenced at Bristol Crown Court on 28 November. The Independent Police Complaints Commission has also confirmed that three constables have been suspended and could face gross misconduct charges over their dealings with Mr Ebrahimi. Three other officers, including a sergeant and an inspector, have been interviewed by the watchdog and could also face the same charge. They have not been suspended.

Rachel Cerfontyne, the deputy chairman of the IPCC, said: “Our investigation is into police officers’ and staff decisions and actions in all their dealings with Mr Ebrahimi following his call to police on 11 July until his death on 14 July. This will also include any previous police contact with him and how those incidents were dealt with, including interactions with other agencies.”

In a family statement relatives said that Mr Ebrahimi was a “quiet disabled man whose only joys in life came from his horticultural interests and his cat. Bijan was a caring, loving and unselfish man. He was an excellent uncle and a warm, supportive brother.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...n-wrongly-accused-of-paedophilia-8909228.html

A very harrowing tale, shades of the Sialkot incident and shades of a mob mentality here too. RIP to the poor man and condolences to his family.

Also can I add that this must be signs of Qiyamat/Allah doesn't help a nation until they help themselves/Jahil Qaum/Zardaris fault/Nation is ruined/UK is finished etc etc

One of the saddest stories I've read in a while.

 

[Robert]

What an awful story.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

What an awful story.

The police heard people chant paedo at him.

What did they expect when they released him?

They are responsible too and good thing that some action is being taken against them.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Vigilantism-Man burned to death by neighbours who mistook him for a paedophile

Welcome to Britain in the 21st century!

This is like the dark ages when an accusation against some poor old lady could result in her being burned as a Witch! For Witch now read Paedo. Barbarism of the worst kind.

Innocent man burned to death by vigilante neighbours who mistook him for paedophile

An innocent man was kicked and beaten unconscious before being burned to death by vigilante neighbours who mistakenly believed he was a paedophile.

Bijan Ebrahimi, 44, took a series of photographs of local youths attacking his hanging baskets and intended to hand the film to police as evidence.

But someone saw him with the camera and told police that Mr Ebrahimi, who was registered disabled and couldn't work, had taken inappropriate pictures of children.

Officers took him away for questioning and as Mr Ebrahimi was taken from his council flat in Brislington, Bristol, residents began chanting 'paedo, paedo'.

He was quizzed at a police station but officers soon realised the mistake and Mr Ebrahimi was released from custody.

But rumours had already begun circulating in the local community that he was a child abuser and he was murdered two days later.

A court heard how Lee James, 24, beat him unconscious and then, with the help of friend Stephen Norley, also 24, dragged his body into the street and set him on fire.

The pair will be sentenced for the brutal crime next month after entering guilty pleas at Bristol Crown Court.

Speaking after the hearing, Avon and Somerset Police spokesman Martin Dunscombe said Mr Ebrahimi was an innocent man.

He said: 'Mr Ebrahimi was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence - breach of the peace - and after being interviewed he was released with no further action taken.

'We can categorically state he had not taken any indecent images and that nothing of concern had been found on his computer.'

In a family statement his relatives said Bijan was a 'loving and caring man' who lived for his garden.

They said: 'Bijan was a quiet, disabled man whose only joys in life came from his horticultural interests and his cat.

'Bijan was a caring, loving and unselfish man. He was an excellent uncle and a warm, supportive brother.'

Neighbours described how Mr Ebrahimi had a passion for the flowers and plants he grew in front of his maisonette in Bristol and that he was 'always out there' tending to them.

But after youngsters started destroying his beloved garden he began started taking pictures to hand over to the council, who owned his property, and the police.

Rumours that Mr Ebrahimi was taking pictures of young children quickly circulated the neighbourhood leading to 'anger' and 'hostility' towards him.

Police then arrested him on July 12, two days before his death on July 14, after locals raised concerns about the photographs he was taking.

Mr Ebrahimi was released without charge when police realised the error but Lee James, who pleaded guilty to murder, and Stephen Norley, who admitted to assisting an offender, decided to 'take the law into their own hands', the court heard.

One resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: 'On the Thursday evening (before his death) everyone came out and they were calling him a paedophile.

'There were about 20 people out there all having a say. They had him down as a 100 per cent paedophile.

'When the police took him away everyone was cheering. Then he got released back into that.'

Another resident added: 'Whoever started those rumours now has to live with that. He wasn't a paedophile and he's now dead.That's a hell of a thing to have on your conscience.'

Both the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the local council have now both launched a review into the way the case was handled.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-vigilante-neighbours-mistook-paedophile.html

 

[in_cutter]

Vigilantism-Man burned to death by neighbours who mistook him for a paedophile

Read this earlier. Shocking stuff.

Poor guy

 

[Cracket]

This..can't be real =[

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

Speculating a bit here,Victims name sounds muslim ...Could xenophobia/islamophobia have added fuel to it ?

 

[Robert]

The police heard people chant paedo at him.

Their defence will be "We can't act until a crime is committed."

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Speculating a bit here,Victims name sounds muslim ...Could xenophobia/islamophobia have added fuel to it ?

The victims sister said he was subject to abuse from his neighbours (prior to this murder) because of his mental disability and his race.

Mr Ebrahimi's murder was the culmination of a series of threats and abuse directed at him on the estate over several years.

Batook Pandya, director of the charity, Stand Against Racism and Inequality (Sari), has revealed that between 2008 and 2011 Mr Ebrahimi had complained to police 14 times.

The issues ranged from "verbal racial abuse" to "issues with his neighbours", he said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25017802


His killer has been jailed for a minimum of 18 years. 'Life' sentences are a joke in this country. 18 years is nothing.

A man has been jailed for life after admitting he murdered his disabled neighbour who had been wrongly branded a paedophile.

Lee James, 24, killed Bijan Ebrahimi and set fire to his body in the Brislington area of Bristol in July.

Mr Justice Simon ordered that James must serve a minimum of 18 years in prison.

Bristol Crown Court heard Mr Ebrahimi, who was an Iranian national and in his 40s, died from head injuries.

Stephen Norley, 25, who had admitted assisting an offender, was given a four-year jail term.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25139185

 

[chacha kashmiri]

First time i've heard this, has it been in the news much

Bit like blasphemy cases in pakistan but there's normally people alot more uptight in those threads

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

First time i've heard this, has it been in the news much

Bit like blasphemy cases in pakistan but there's normally people alot more uptight in those threads

I read about this story a couple of weeks ago, it wasn't front page news though, that's why it hasn't been mentioned much in the mainstream news.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

I read about this story a couple of weeks ago, it wasn't front page news though, that's why it hasn't been mentioned much in the mainstream news.

Shocking, really is

Not sure why nooone's come out as a vigilante to kill the two murderers

 

[James]

Disgusting. I am speechless. That poor man.

Life without the possibility of parole for these two barbarians I think.

 

[Robert]

Welcome to Britain in the 21st century!

This is like the dark ages when an accusation against some poor old lady could result in her being burned as a Witch! For Witch now read Paedo. Barbarism of the worst kind.

Exactly so - like the witch-burnings of old, the accusation of paedophilia alone is enough.

I've felt the power of mob rule - it invades your head and takes over your body - I never want to feel that again.

 

[mani1]

I think some one in his family needs to be made a Lord or Baron as the precedent has been set.

 

[Uzi]

Vigilantism-Man burned to death by neighbours who mistook him for a paedophile

The justice system is messed up. Should be life imprisonment and life imprisonment only.

 

[Robert]

His killer has been jailed for a minimum of 18 years. 'Life' sentences are a joke in this country. 18 years is nothing.

18 years isn't nothing, it's 18 years.

Probably in some Victorian hell-hole with very little to do and the constant threat of violence.

They will only let him out after that if he has shown significant remorse and undertaken various psychological programmes.

British justice is based on the Christian concept of redemption - that the criminal can reform some day. If he does not reform in those 18 years, they will not let him out.

 

[Abdullah719]

‘We’re extremely sorry’: Murdered Iranian refugee Bijan Ebrahimi failed by police and council’s 'institutional racism'

“Institutional racism” caused police and a council to side with the abusers of a disabled refugee in the lead up to his brutal murder, a report has found.

The Safer Bristol Partnership (SBP) said there had been a “collective failure” to protect Bijan Ebrahimi before he was killed and set on fire by his neighbour in 2013.

The body said that although neither Avon and Somerset Constabulary or Bristol City Council had been intentionally racist, both organisations “repeatedly sided with abusers” who falsely accused the refugee of being a paedophile.

The Iranian man had repeatedly reported being victimised by his neighbours, including death threats, criminal damage and racial abuse, but police officers and staff failed to protect him or record a crime in 40 incidents.

Even as Mr Ebrahimi presented evidence against his predominantly white neighbours, he was arrested and handed an anti-social behaviour order, while they were not reprimanded.

The SBP said he was treated as a “primary perpetrator, rather than the primary victim” of abuse and mistreatment that started years before he was killed.

“On occasions, Mr Ebrahimi was treated with disrespect and even contempt by some police officers,” it concluded, adding that some officers and council staff wrongly claimed his reports were “dishonest”.

“There is evidence of both discriminatory behaviour and institutional racism on the part of Bristol City Council and Avon and Somerset Constabulary.”

Lee James was jailed for life for murdering Mr Ebrahimi in Capgrave Crescent on 14 July 2013 and Stephen Norley was jailed for four years for assisting an offender.

A trial heard James – whose partner had moved to the area just months before – beat and kicked Mr Ebrahimi to death, before setting his body on fire with Norley’s help.

He first attacked his neighbour three days before the murder, after drinking while in charge of his young children, and threatened him inside his flat.

Mr Ebrahimi filmed part of the incident and reported it to police – but instead of targeting James they arrested him for breach of the peace and harassment – despite his innocence and the fact James continued making threats in their presence.

The refugee was released and returned home the following day, with an “urgent” marker on calls from his address, but when he made further calls to police saying he feared for his life officers did not visit his home.

“He eventually walked to nearby Brislington Police Station to seek help,” the SBP report said.

“He was told to go home. Late the following night, Lee James saw Mr Ebrahimi outside his flat and perpetrated the fatal assault.”

In a separate investigation that concluded in July, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said Avon and Somerset Constabulary responded poorly to 85 telephone calls from Mr Ebrahimi from 2007 onwards.

The IPCC said he was never fully recognised as a victim of racial abuse by authorities, who considered him “to be a liar, a nuisance and an attention seeker” and believed his neighbours instead.

At a trial in 2015, a police constable and police community support officer were convicted of misconduct in public office and dismissed over Mr Ebrahimi’s case.

Two other officers were acquitted at trial but later fired for gross misconduct by Avon and Somerset Constabulary, which gave four other staff involved written warnings.

Mr Ebrahimi had arrived in the UK, where his two sisters and nephews lived, in 2000 and was granted indefinite leave to remain as a refugee the following year.

He studied at college before a worsening back condition affected his mobility and ability to work.

Mr Ebrahimi was first attacked in a private shared house in Bedmister, Bristol, in 2005 when a housemate scalded him with hot water and was later jailed.

He was allocated a case worker by Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) and was moved by the council to a flat at Whartons, Brislington, in November 2006.

But he reported more racist abuse there and was targeted by an arson attack, causing him to be put in emergency accommodation and then moved into Capgrave Crescent in 2007.

That was the year when unfounded rumours that Mr Ebrahimi was a paedophile started circulating, becoming what the SBP report called a “local belief”.

“There has been no evidence provided for this review that Mr Ebrahimi may have had any sexual interest in children,” it concluded.

“Authorities took no steps to correct the view and the silence may have been taken by some as confirmation of local suspicions.”

The review called on Avon and Somerset Constabulary to record all crimes in compliance with national standards, for proper oversight of decisions and the risk of harm, for a change in organisational culture and for hate crime to be automatically passed to specialist support groups.

It also ordered Bristol City Council to start an immediate review of tenants with complex needs and amend its policy for vulnerable people.

Publication of the SBP’s multi-agency learning review was delayed to avoid prejudicing the trials and IPCC investigation.

Alison Comley, chair of the body, said the murder of Mr Ebrahimi shocked Bristol and thanked his family for their “dignity and strength”.

“As chair of the partnership I am sorry for the collective failure of organisations to support Mr Ebrahimi as a victim of anti-social behaviour and hate crime,” she added, pledging that lasting changes had been made.

“We did not wait until this review was published to make improvements.”

Marvin Rees, the mayor of Bristol, offered a “sincere and wholehearted” apology for Mr Ebrahimi’s treatment and vowed to continue improvements in his memory.

Mr Rees said the council accepted all of the independent’s review’s findings, including of discriminatory behaviour and institutional racism, adding: “We apologise for failing to adequately support Bijan as a victim.

“We would like once again to offer our sincere condolences, remorse and apologise to Bijan’s family.”

Avon and Somerset Constabulary also accepted all findings and said wide-ranging changes had already been made to “prevent a tragedy like this from ever happening again”.

“We’d like to reiterate our sincere apologies to Mr Ebrahimi’s family who’ve shown great courage throughout,” a spokesperson added. “We failed him when he needed us the most and for that we’re extremely sorry.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...on-somerset-police-council-gang-a8116341.html