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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

A innocent man killed because police refused to protect him

Lee James, 24, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 18 years for beating 44-year-old Bijan Ebrahimi to death before setting his body on fire.
James admitted killing the victim, who was from Iran, outside his home in Bristol in July in what the judge described as an "act of murderous injustice".
A second man, Steven Norley, 25, was also jailed for four years at Bristol Crown Court for assisting an offender after he admitted helping to burn Mr Ebrahimi's body.

Bijan Ebrahimi murder
Lee James, left, and Steven Norley
Mr Ebrahimi was a vulnerable man who was mistaken for a paedophile by his neighbours when he was seen taking pictures of young people who were damaging his garden plants, which which he was devoted.
He had repeatedly contacted police complaining that he was the victim of anti-social behaviour and was being unfairly targeted by his neighbours.
Just hours before his death Mr Ebrahimi begged officers to help, telling them he did not feel safe in his own home.
But his messages to Avon and Somerset Police went unanswered, Bristol Crown Court heard.
Three days before Mr Ebrahimi’s death, a crowd had reportedly gathered outside his home in Capgrave Crescent, Brislington, calling him a "paedo" and the police arrested Mr Ebrahimi for breach of the peace.
As the officers arrested Mr Ebrahimi for "his own safety", he told them: "I can't believe you are arresting me when I haven't done anything."

Bijan Ebrahimi
Mr Ebrahimi's body was set alight with white spirits
Prosecutor Andrew Langdon QC said: "As he was led away, the neighbours began cheering. Some were shouting abuse.
"An eyewitness told PC Winter, 'Everyone seemed to be out of control. It was like they were a posse or a vigilante group or a witch hunt'."
Neighbour Beryl Smith said the neighbours "were shouting 'get out of here you dirty paedo'."
Mr Ebrahimi was released without charge the following day.
On July 11, James entered Mr Ebrahimi’s house and threatened to take the law into his own hands unless police "dealt with the situation".
Footage of the confrontation, which the victim had filmed, has been released by the court.
"During the course of the evening of July 12, Mr Ebrahimi made a number of calls to police reporting hostile behaviour," Mr Langdon said.
"For one reason or another, these messages were not responded to. At 1.57am he sent an email to the local beat manager saying he was being called 'nasty things' and did not feel safe at home.
"Regrettably that was not a message that was read until after his death."
Mr Langdon told the court how James repeatedly stamped on the head of Mr Ebrahimi, inflicting fatal injuries.
"Following that attack Lee James and Steven Norley dragged Mr Ebrahimi's body about 100 yards out of the crescent on to the verge of a neighbouring road before they poured white spirit over the body and set fire to it," he said.

Bijan Ebrahimi murder
Footage filmed by Mr Ebrahimi of James
Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Nick Gargan issued an apology after the tragedy, saying: "Mr Ebrahimi was someone who deserved the protection of all of us and we are very sorry about what happened to him."
Mr Gargan went on: "It is clear that there was a collective failure on the part of statutory agencies and others to protect Mr Ebrahimi and we cannot wait for all the  various external investigative processes to run their course before we start learning lessons for the future."
Police watchdog the IPCC has questioned six officers over their handling of the case, three under police caution. All were served notices of gross misconduct and three have been suspended on full pay.
The IPCC has also questioned six civilian police staff who are believed to be call-handlers. Bristol City Council has also launched a review into the case.
Mr Ebrahimi's sister, Manizhah Moores said her brother had suffered racial abuse while living in Bristol and his previous home had been the subject of an arson attack.
She said: "We hope that nobody else ever has to witness an innocent disabled man being abused, taunted and tortured in the way that Bijan suffered.
"The question that now must be answered is whether Bijan's death could have been avoided had he been afforded the protection from the authorities he deserved.
"Lessons must be learned before other vulnerable lives are lost."

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