Teenager jailed for stabbing two men to death after row over woman outside Halifax nightclub
A 19-year-old man has been jailed for 28 years for murdering two men outside a Halifax nightclub.
Rashane Douglas, from Huddersfield, stabbed Joshua Clark, 21, and Haidar Shah, 19, outside Maggie’s on Commercial Street on 1 October last year.
Douglas also stabbed Brandon Coupe, 18, in the attack, which happened after an earlier row over a woman.
He was found not guilty of the attempted murder of Mr Coupe, but was found guilty of wounding with intent and sentenced to six years.
Douglas was also given 18 months for possession of a knife with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The sentences will run concurrently.
Judge Rose said in court: “This case is an illustration of the tragic consequences which can follow when a young man carries a knife in public.
“If you carry a knife, you are more likely to draw it; if you draw it, you are more likely to use it; if you use it, you are more likely to cause injury or death.”
Pic: West Yorkshire Police
During his trial, the court heard how Douglas stabbed the three men within seconds of each other.
The prosecution said the 19-year-old was angry that a woman he had been expecting to meet at the nightclub was already with Mr Shah.
Douglas was alleged to have confronted the victims, and a fight broke out after the woman had gone home.
In a statement via West Yorkshire Police, Haidar’s mother Marium Shah said her son “was the most beautiful person inside and out”.
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The teenager’s older brother Shahzerb Shah added: “Witnessing someone take their last breath with whom you share the same blood with, grew up with and shared happy memories with, affects you more than people understand.
“For someone, who doesn’t deserve to be named, to be so cowardly to use a knife, then to try to justify it and then cover it up and believe he is blameless just doesn’t resonate with me.
“I look at the pain in my mother’s eyes. I see the impact Haidar’s death has had on her, my sister, my brothers and my niece.”
Haidar Shah. Pic: West Yorkshire Police
Joshua Clarke. Pic: West Yorkshire Police
Rachel Clarke, Joshua’s mother, also said: “Josh was not just my son; he was also my best friend. We would laugh and joke together, with his quick-witted and clever sense of humour, life was so much fun with Josh in it.
“Now my life just feels so empty and dark. My new normal is trying to navigate my way through life without Josh in it now that his life has been cruelly and needlessly ripped away from him by the actions of a brutal killer.
“The cruel actions of one individual didn’t just take away my beloved son, but also shattered my sense of self. I have lost my identity as a mother.”
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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