Khuram’s brother glad about verdict, will keep watch
by Sulochana Ramiah Mohan
July 20, 2014
British national, Naseer Shaikh speaking with great sadness over the murder of his brother, Khuram Shaikh, in Tangalle two and half years ago, says he has come to terms with the 20 years of rigorous imprisonment imposed on the four accused by the Colombo High Court, on Friday. However, he said there is no closure of the case since he knows the convicts will file an appeal in 14 days and he would be watching the development closely.
Naseer who had been to Sri Lanka five times, to attend the trial, says he 'had no clue' what the verdict would be. "The verdict is satisfactory in the sense I did not really have all the answers during the full hearing from the day trial began 3 ½ months ago," he said.
Having the notion that it is difficult to prejudge what the verdict would be, although it was clearly a tragic incident with a female involved, he said "We expected the case to have all the findings serious enough to merit conviction and that has been there Friday."
He added, "It's a first degree murder but it isdifficult to say if the verdict was satisfactory or not. The case needs all findings for delivering judgement."
"There is no closure, I understand and it is not going to happen soon. I see my life and my whole family and this verdict certainly gives us a token of peace. I had not been there when the murder took place but for this case I devoted my time to understand what really happened to my brother and the element of acceptance is there now. Today this completion will allow me to do that," Naseer stressed.
He admitted that although some of the suspects were arrested quickly, there was a delay. "It really took two years to finally see justice done. That was 'kicked into the system' within four months with the campaign that was carried out. "In the judicial system of Sri Lanka there are many good things to be seen in good light. I don't want to compare my brother's case with any other case."
Naseer on verdict
Naseer said initially he did not want to read the news on how his brother was murdered. "I avoided reading it because it was my brother who had been brutally killed. Back in the UK, a student was shot and killed and it was on the Boxing Day (the day after Khuram's murder) but the trial ended in six months. That is when I decided to carry the campaign and I must say 2 ½ years was a reasonable time to end my brothers case. Three and a half months of trial and then the verdict, and it was quick enough, I think, " Naseer quipped.
Commenting on Victoria, Khuram's partner, Naseer said that she had been quiet and they all bear in mind that she was involved in that bloody night and the trauma she underwent was immense. "It's difficult for her. But she came out for Khuram, to see that justice prevailed. She is moving on and she needs to really build her life with lots of expectations. We are with her helping her to rebuild her life," he added.
When asked if he expected the sentence of 20 years RI, Naseer said he had absolutely no idea. "Honestly, as the saying goes 'we cannot see the wood for the trees', I had no clue. I had one goal and that was to see that the trial goes on and a verdict is derived."
Naseer also admitted that if it wasn't a politician behind the crime, the case would have been different altogether. "We thought since he was a politician there was a 'hindrance' for the case. If not the case would have been in a better position and very quicker and that it would have changed the whole dynamics of the case."
Khuram's Constituent MP. Simon Danczuk, warned the government to take the case seriously and also pointed the delay to Prime Minister David Cameron and even Prince Charles who came for Commonwealth (CHOGM) meeting last year.
"This push by the UK Government, although I would not say applied pressure, the delay was little more than ordinary, so we came out openly to speak about it."
Naseer said he only knew Sri Lanka to be a tourist destination as his brother told him while he was spending his holidays. "Khuram visited Sri Lanka twice before and spoke good of this country. However, Naseer had been visiting five times for the trial and says that he had met the people in the area. They have been very warm and welcoming, yet it would be difficult for him or to anyone from his family to come over here to spend their vacation simply because this is where his brother was brutally killed.
Avoided
"I really fought for this verdict and was forced into this journey and yet, have not got all the questions answered about the loss of my brother.
"I have avoided reading about the brutal killing from the very first day. I missed those points and did not want to understand what had happened to my brother. I still cannot really exactly understand the whole logic from that night till the trial ended.
"I didn't really want to know the specific parts of the murder and it's still raw for me," Naseer admitted.
Like any other cases where appeal is made, Naseer says he would wait for the appeal to learn the next step. "No doubt there will be an appeal by the convicts and we will wait and decide thereupon if something is required from our side.
'Gut feeling'
When asked if he has a 'gut feeling' that the accused would be out before 20 years, Naseer said that is not experienced as yet, and certainly not in this case although there are jail terms which are reduced due to good behaviour. But Naseer stated that this magnitude of crime cannot be seen in that light. "In this case, it's not just a murder, but everything, and there are multiple charges and I will be shocked and very surprised if the sentence is reduced. Even now, this verdict of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment may have been a surprise to many, I don't know. Till today, the case could have gone either way," Naseer pointed out.
"The present government should not allow such things to happen and the integrity of this country also lies within the judicial system of the country and my brother's case can be utilized as a good example and taken forward," he added.
Naseer says that he campaigned for this trial. "I am fortunate that a team back in my country had been there for me. I will wait to hear the appeal and remain to keep a close watch over the development of the case."
He recalled that his mother showed no emotion when she heard the verdict. "She was quiet. Looking into her eyes, I saw pain and she never accepts that she lost her son and that is tough. I will go back and give her a hug and probably she will be thankful to me as I pushed the case and ensured that this case will not be a forgotten one," Naseer said with a smile.
(Pic by J. Weerasekera)
by Sulochana Ramiah Mohan
July 20, 2014
British national, Naseer Shaikh speaking with great sadness over the murder of his brother, Khuram Shaikh, in Tangalle two and half years ago, says he has come to terms with the 20 years of rigorous imprisonment imposed on the four accused by the Colombo High Court, on Friday. However, he said there is no closure of the case since he knows the convicts will file an appeal in 14 days and he would be watching the development closely.
Naseer who had been to Sri Lanka five times, to attend the trial, says he 'had no clue' what the verdict would be. "The verdict is satisfactory in the sense I did not really have all the answers during the full hearing from the day trial began 3 ½ months ago," he said.
Having the notion that it is difficult to prejudge what the verdict would be, although it was clearly a tragic incident with a female involved, he said "We expected the case to have all the findings serious enough to merit conviction and that has been there Friday."
He added, "It's a first degree murder but it isdifficult to say if the verdict was satisfactory or not. The case needs all findings for delivering judgement."
"There is no closure, I understand and it is not going to happen soon. I see my life and my whole family and this verdict certainly gives us a token of peace. I had not been there when the murder took place but for this case I devoted my time to understand what really happened to my brother and the element of acceptance is there now. Today this completion will allow me to do that," Naseer stressed.
He admitted that although some of the suspects were arrested quickly, there was a delay. "It really took two years to finally see justice done. That was 'kicked into the system' within four months with the campaign that was carried out. "In the judicial system of Sri Lanka there are many good things to be seen in good light. I don't want to compare my brother's case with any other case."
Naseer on verdict
Naseer said initially he did not want to read the news on how his brother was murdered. "I avoided reading it because it was my brother who had been brutally killed. Back in the UK, a student was shot and killed and it was on the Boxing Day (the day after Khuram's murder) but the trial ended in six months. That is when I decided to carry the campaign and I must say 2 ½ years was a reasonable time to end my brothers case. Three and a half months of trial and then the verdict, and it was quick enough, I think, " Naseer quipped.
Commenting on Victoria, Khuram's partner, Naseer said that she had been quiet and they all bear in mind that she was involved in that bloody night and the trauma she underwent was immense. "It's difficult for her. But she came out for Khuram, to see that justice prevailed. She is moving on and she needs to really build her life with lots of expectations. We are with her helping her to rebuild her life," he added.
When asked if he expected the sentence of 20 years RI, Naseer said he had absolutely no idea. "Honestly, as the saying goes 'we cannot see the wood for the trees', I had no clue. I had one goal and that was to see that the trial goes on and a verdict is derived."
Naseer also admitted that if it wasn't a politician behind the crime, the case would have been different altogether. "We thought since he was a politician there was a 'hindrance' for the case. If not the case would have been in a better position and very quicker and that it would have changed the whole dynamics of the case."
Khuram's Constituent MP. Simon Danczuk, warned the government to take the case seriously and also pointed the delay to Prime Minister David Cameron and even Prince Charles who came for Commonwealth (CHOGM) meeting last year.
"This push by the UK Government, although I would not say applied pressure, the delay was little more than ordinary, so we came out openly to speak about it."
Naseer said he only knew Sri Lanka to be a tourist destination as his brother told him while he was spending his holidays. "Khuram visited Sri Lanka twice before and spoke good of this country. However, Naseer had been visiting five times for the trial and says that he had met the people in the area. They have been very warm and welcoming, yet it would be difficult for him or to anyone from his family to come over here to spend their vacation simply because this is where his brother was brutally killed.
Avoided
"I really fought for this verdict and was forced into this journey and yet, have not got all the questions answered about the loss of my brother.
"I have avoided reading about the brutal killing from the very first day. I missed those points and did not want to understand what had happened to my brother. I still cannot really exactly understand the whole logic from that night till the trial ended.
"I didn't really want to know the specific parts of the murder and it's still raw for me," Naseer admitted.
Like any other cases where appeal is made, Naseer says he would wait for the appeal to learn the next step. "No doubt there will be an appeal by the convicts and we will wait and decide thereupon if something is required from our side.
'Gut feeling'
When asked if he has a 'gut feeling' that the accused would be out before 20 years, Naseer said that is not experienced as yet, and certainly not in this case although there are jail terms which are reduced due to good behaviour. But Naseer stated that this magnitude of crime cannot be seen in that light. "In this case, it's not just a murder, but everything, and there are multiple charges and I will be shocked and very surprised if the sentence is reduced. Even now, this verdict of 20 years of rigorous imprisonment may have been a surprise to many, I don't know. Till today, the case could have gone either way," Naseer pointed out.
"The present government should not allow such things to happen and the integrity of this country also lies within the judicial system of the country and my brother's case can be utilized as a good example and taken forward," he added.
Naseer says that he campaigned for this trial. "I am fortunate that a team back in my country had been there for me. I will wait to hear the appeal and remain to keep a close watch over the development of the case."
He recalled that his mother showed no emotion when she heard the verdict. "She was quiet. Looking into her eyes, I saw pain and she never accepts that she lost her son and that is tough. I will go back and give her a hug and probably she will be thankful to me as I pushed the case and ensured that this case will not be a forgotten one," Naseer said with a smile.
(Pic by J. Weerasekera)
