Cannabis farm crossbow killer will serve at least 33 years for double murder

A double-killer who used a crossbow to murder his own brother and a rival gang member has been ordered to serve a minimum term of 33 years.

Convicted drug-dealer Saghawat Ramzan killed kickboxer Khuzaimah Douglas around a minute after fatally injuring his younger brother Waseem Ramzan by mistake, following a raid on the family’s cannabis factory.

Saghawat, his son Omar Ramzan and family friend Mohammed Sageer were all jailed for life at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday for their roles in killing the two victims.

Saghawat, 47, was also convicted of murdering Waseem Ramzan, while the other defendants were convicted of his manslaughter.

Former KPMG accountant Omar Ramzan, a 24-year-old Lancaster University graduate, was handed a minimum term of 22 years.

Edinburgh-born Sageer, 33, was ordered to serve at least 20 years before he can be considered for parole.

A three-week trial was shown CCTV footage of the moment Saghawat shot his brother in the stomach with the “horrific” crossbow during a four-on-one punishment beating in response to a burglary at the cannabis grow.

A second bolt travelling at 270ft-per-second was fired at 19-year-old Mr Douglas less than a minute later, causing fatal internal injuries.

Waseem Ramzan, 36, died in hospital after the bolt that struck him was removed and hidden near the scene.

The defendants were charged with murder after police recovered CCTV footage from cameras set up to protect the four-room cannabis farm from raids by rival gangs.

As well as the killings, the footage showed Sageer, of Gorsty Avenue, Brierley Hill, arriving at the scene and handling a second crossbow.

The judge said: “In endeavouring to protect that against a raid by a rival criminal group, you caught one of the raiders that was trying to escape.

“You were all intent on causing him really serious harm.

“This was on any view a truly appalling incident of considered violence to protect a criminal enterprise by exacting retribution and seeking to deter others.

“Shortly before 3.30am, you Saghawat Ramzan must have become aware of what was happening through the CCTV cameras relayed to your iPad.”

Judge Chambers said of the fatal struggle: “This was no fight. Khuzaimah Douglas was subjected to a concerted assault.

“I am afraid, in relation to Khuzaimah Douglas you have shown no remorse.

“I am satisfied this was a murder done for gain, namely the protection of the cannabis production operation.”

Offering mitigation before sentence, Phil Bradley QC said the finance worker, who was off work due to ill health at the time of the killings, had fallen in a “mighty way” and was now “on the floor”.

The court heard Omar Ramzan had the fourth highest marks nationally when he graduated from university, before joining KPMG.

Mr Bradley said of Omar Ramzan: “He was an utterly driven individual.

“This is an extraordinary story of somebody who excelled, despite being no more than an average student at an ordinary comprehensive, when he got to a red brick university.

“It must be one of the greatest understatements to say that this was massively out of character.”

Gary Bell QC, mitigating for Saghawat Ramzan, said: “If he ever gets out, it’s going to be in the deepest twilight of his life.

“He himself will have to live with the knowledge that it was he who killed his own brother.”