A man has been convicted of killing a 20-year-old who was fatally stabbed during a fight in a hotel room in Birmingham city center last summer.
Panashe Bako died after suffering a single knife wound to his chest when a row erupted into violence in the room at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Holliday Street on 21 July at around 7.20 pm.
Hotel staff and then paramedics worked to save Mr Bako as he lay fatally wounded in the hotel corridor. But sadly he was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Officers carefully worked through witness statements, CCTV footage, and forensic evidence to piece together the tragic events which revolved around Muhammad Khan, the former partner of the young woman Mr Bako was within the hotel.
Using phone analysis Police discovered that Khan, also aged 20, had contacted his ex, dozens of times that day after seeing on social media post that she was at the hotel with Mr Bako.
Khan went to the hotel and claimed that the woman with Mr Bako, owed him money.
He began taking a number of items belonging to her and when Mr Bako tried stop him a fight broke out between the two.
Whilst they fought, a knife was produced and Mr Bako was fatally stabbed.
Khan then left the hotel, but left behind a six-inch knife, returned to its sheath, on the floor by a lift.
Following fast-track inquiries, Police arrested Khan the next day and retrieved two phones and a bag from the boot of the car he was in.
Police also seized clothing that forensic analysis showed was stained with Mr Bako’s blood.
Khan, of Gowan Road, Washwood Heath, had denied murder but after a four-week trial at Stafford Crown Court the jury today (Friday 28 May) found Khan guilty of manslaughter.
Caesar Bello, of St Heliers Road, Birmingham, who had also denied murder, was found not guilty. Both men were also found not guilty of a related charge of robbery.
Following the verdict, Khan was remanded in custody for sentence on 6 August.
Detective Inspector Jim Colclough, from our homicide team, said: “It is simply tragic that a row in a hotel can have escalated so far and so fast that a young man has lost his life.
“Carrying knives only leads to more violence and the consequences of using them all too often leads to a family mourning the loss of a loved one.
“Our thoughts remain with Mr Bako’s family at this devastating time but we hope that Khan’s conviction brings them some comfort.
“We will always pursue those who arm themselves with weapons and use them to inflict pain and suffering on others and that work continues.”.