Two teenagers sentenced to life in prison for the racist murder of Welsh 38-year-old Kamran Aman have been referred to the Court of Appeal amid concerns the punishment may be “too lenient”.Marcus Staniforth, 17, was jailed for life after he and a 16-year-old boy, whose identity is protected by law, brutally attacked Aman outside his mother’s home in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan earlier this year.The victim, described as a devoted husband and father, had just delivered groceries to his mother when he was ambushed in an unprovoked attack shortly before midnight on June 30 last year.
Who is Kamran Aman? ?
Kamran Aman, 38, a grocery delivery driver and family man, arrived at his mother’s home in Barry Road shortly before the attack. According to prosecutors, Aman was about to return to his car when he was attacked by the teenagers.Court proceedings revealed the attacker had been drinking and taking drugs at a nearby house before spotting Aman sitting in his car.The young defendant allegedly began shouting racist slurs, including anti-Pakistan slurs, before attempting to confront Aman.
Attack described as ‘ruthless’
After failing to get into the passenger side of the car, the teenager made his way to the driver’s side, forcing Aman to get out and defend himself, where he was punched and kicked.Witnesses described the attack as “ruthless” and neighbors told the court the boys behaved like “a pack of animals”.During the attack, Staniforth ran into a nearby house and returned a short time later with a large kitchen knife. Witnesses said Aman swung the weapon multiple times before he was stabbed through the heart.While the victim was bleeding profusely, the young boy allegedly continued hurling racist abuse, including slurs and slurs directed at the people of Pakistan.
Evidence and Arrest
Paramedics attempted emergency open-heart surgery at the scene, but Aman died from fatal chest injuries.The court heard that after the stabbing, Staniforth returned to the house and tried to clean the knife and hands with bleach before the two teenagers fled.Police arrested them a short distance away within about 10 minutes of the attack. Investigators later found Staniforth’s DNA on the knife, while Aman’s blood was found on the boy’s clothes and shoes.
The court may increase the penalty
Staniforth was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 17 years at Cardiff Crown Court in February this year, while the 16-year-old was ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years before being eligible for parole.Judge Griffiths described Staniforth as “a very dangerous young man indeed” and told the young defendant he had “incited a deliberate, unprovoked, sustained and violent racist attack”.The case has now been referred under the excessive leniency scheme, meaning Court of Appeal judges will decide whether the minimum sentence should be increased.
