A MAN has been jailed for for the murder of Vignesh Pattabi Raman following an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit.
Shazeb Khalid, aged 25 and of no fixed abode, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 21 years in prison at a hearing in Reading Crown Court on Monday, October 7.
It follows a hearing at the same court on Wednesday, September 11, where Khalid was found guilty of the murder at the culmination of a month-long trial in Reading Crown Court.
Khalid had pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a previous hearing, at which Soiheem Hussian, aged 27 and of Rossby, Shinfield, was found not guilty of the murder but was found guilty of assisting an offender.
Mya Reilly, aged 20, of Chiltern Gardens, Woodcote, was also found not guilty of assisting an offender at the same trial.
It comes after 36-year-old Mr Raman was found following a traffic collision between a cyclist and a vehicle in Addington Road, Reading, at around 11.50pm on February 14 this year.
Mr Raman was taken to Royal Berkshire Hospital, where he was declared dead, and a murder investigation was launched.
Mr Raman’s post-mortem examination found that he had died as a result of his head injuries.
Khalid was arrested on February 19 and charged the following day.
Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Brangwin, of the Major Crime Unit, said: “I am pleased with the lengthy sentence handed to Khalid in particular. It reflects the truly sickening nature of his actions.
“Vignesh was a kind, gentle man who moved to the UK on the promise of a job providing opportunity and hope for him and his wife, Ramya. He was killed on a misguided belief that he was responsible for instigating an investigation into the Vel restaurant employing illegal immigrants.
“Ramya’s life was shattered when her husband’s life was taken and Vignesh’s wider family and friends were similarly devastated.”
“I can only hope that the sentences passed today provide some relief for Vignesh’s family.”
