Vignesh Pattabhiraman, 36, was killed by Shazeb Khalid with a “stolen Range Rover”.
London:
A 25-year-old man of Pakistani descent has been convicted of murdering an Indian restaurant manager with a stolen car as the victim cycled home in south-east England on Valentine's Day this year.
Vignesh Pattabhiraman, 36, was killed by Shazeb Khalid in a “stolen Range Rover” as he cycled home from his workplace, an Indian restaurant called 'Vel', in Reading, UK.
The Indian man was pronounced dead at Royal Berkshire Hospital and a murder investigation has been launched.
Khalid was arrested on February 19 and charged with murder the following day.
Khalid was found guilty of murdering Pattabhiraman on Wednesday following a 28-day trial at Reading Crown Court.
Khalid pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter at an earlier hearing, but the jury found him guilty of murder.
Soiheem Hussain, 27, and Mya Reilly, 20, who were also arrested and charged in the case, also appeared during the same trial.
While Hussain was found guilty of assisting an offender, Reilly was found not guilty of the same charge.
Khalid is scheduled to be sentenced on October 10.
Thames Valley Police, which conducted the murder investigation, told the court that a post-mortem examination determined Pattabhiraman had died from a head injury following the collision.
“I am pleased that the jury has found Khalid guilty of murder,” said Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Stuart Brangwin, the lead investigator on the case for Thames Valley Police.
“It was clear to the jury that Khalid intended to cause Vignesh harm that night. He used the stolen Range Rover he was driving as a weapon and left him to suffer knowing he had hit him,” he said.
“The communication between Khalid and Hussain on the night of Pattabhiraman's death showed that Hussain was well aware of what had happened and was helpful in the aftermath. Vignesh's death has left his family devastated and I hope this verdict goes some way to helping them,” added Detective Chief Inspector Brangwin.
Meanwhile, a Just Giving charity initiative set up online by friends and family of Pattabhiraman to help with repatriation costs and support his grieving wife Ramya following the “senseless tragedy” has raised more than GBP 52,500.
“Vignesh was a committed restaurant manager at Vel, where he put his heart and soul into his work, earning recognition for his exceptionally warm character, customer service and work ethic. His dream of achieving a senior management position in the hospitality industry was within reach, and an exciting opportunity awaited him at Hyatt Regency Mayfair London,” reads the tribute posted online.
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