A MAN has been convicted of murder and a further man has been convicted of assisting an offender following an investigation by Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit.
Shazeb Khalid, aged 25 and of no fixed abode, was found guilty of the murder of Vignesh Pattabi Raman at the culmination of a month-long trial in Reading Crown Court.
Khalid had pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a previous hearing
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 found not guilty of assisting an offender at the same trial.
It comes after 36-year-old Vignesh Pattabi 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.
Khalid and Hussain are now due to be sentenced on October 10.
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Brangwin, said: “I am glad that the jury has found Khalid guilty of murder and Hussain guilty of assisting an offender.
“It was obviously clear to the jury that Khalid intended to cause Vignesh harm that evening. He used the stolen Range Rover he was driving as a weapon and left him to suffer knowing that he had hit him.
“The communication between Khalid and Hussain throughout the evening of Vignesh’s death showed that Hussain was very much aware of what happened and that he assisted in the aftermath.
“The death of Vignesh has left his family devastated, and I hope this verdict will help them in some way.”
