Two brothers from Huddersfield, along with a third man, have received a combined sentence of 65 years for their involvement in the tragic stabbing of a victim during a failed robbery in his own home.
Amaan Ansar, aged 20, and Sahil Ansar, aged 19, both residing on Springdale Avenue, were sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Friday, October 27th. They were found guilty of the murder of 33-year-old Mr Khalfan Seif. Additionally, Amaan Ansar was convicted of robbing Mr Seif’s wife.
Amaan Ansar was given a life sentence with a minimum term of 26 years to be served, while Sahil Ansar received a life sentence with a minimum term of 25 years.
The third individual, 19-year-old Wahaab Saif from Crosland Moor, was sentenced to 14 years for manslaughter, with a minimum term of nine years and two months before becoming eligible for release on licence.
The sentences for Amann and Sahil Ansar took into account other unrelated crimes they were convicted for during the hearing.
Police were alerted to the incident on Springdale Avenue at 11.17 pm on Saturday, January 14th. The three assailants had knocked on Mr Seif’s kitchen door, forcibly entered, brandishing a large knife, and demanded property.
One of the attackers also entered the sitting room, threatening Mr Seif’s wife with a knife while demanding her phone. She handed it over and fled through the front door with her children to seek help. Shortly after, she discovered her husband, who had made it into the street but had sustained a severe stab wound to the stomach. Despite undergoing surgery, he tragically passed away the following evening.
A thorough police investigation followed the attack on Mr Seif, leading to the apprehension of all three suspects in the subsequent days. They were charged and brought before the courts on Monday, January 23rd.
DCI Damian Roebuck of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, who led the investigation to convict the three men, said: “The brutal murder of Khalfan was an absolute tragedy for his family, and we are glad to see these three men jailed for their roles in this dreadful crime.
“The level of violence used in this savage and completely unnecessary attack was such that despite swift emergency medical attention, Khalfan’s injuries proved to be unsurvivable.
“Mr Seif’s wife Louise was also terrorized by these men as were their children, only adding to the ordeal the family suffered.”
He added: “I want to commend the bravery of Mr Seif’s family as they continue to come to terms with the loss of a loving husband, father and friend. They conducted themselves with the utmost dignity throughout the trial, and I am glad for them it finished with the guilt proved of those who took Khalfan’s life.
“Nothing will bring Khalfan back to them but I hope his wife and children can take some small measure of comfort from seeing these men jailed today.”
In a statement issued after sentencing Khalfan’s widow Louise, said: “On the 14th of January 2023, my husband Khalfan was murdered in our home in an act that turned our world upside down. Not only did I lose my husband, but I also lost my soulmate, and my three children lost their father.
“The dreadful impact on my wellbeing and that of our children is frankly hard to even begin to describe. Our eldest boy was witness to the robbery committed against me and saw his father dying in the street. He cannot talk about what he witnessed or how he feels about losing his father, but the anger and grief he feels is always there, dreadfully affecting his mental health.
“My children no longer have a father figure to look up to and I no longer have a husband and partner. I will never forget the day Khalfan was murdered. It will haunt me for the rest of my life.”
