Islam Khan persuades judge to reduce sentence at Birmingham Crown Court
Islam Khan has persuaded the sentencing judge at Birmingham Crown Court to reduce his clients’ sentence from a 25-35 year custody range to a 7-15 year custody range, in the case of R -v- Wasif Hussain and Nabela Tabassum.
The case involved a deliberate attempted murder, with giraffe masks put on by the defendants to conceal their identity. It was carried out by the first defendant assisted by the second, with a hammer and knife attacking the victim in her own kitchen. This was recorded on the internal house CCTV overlooking the kitchen, and significant injuries were inflicted.
News of the case has been reported in BBC News, The Independent, ITV News, Birmingham Live, The Express and Star and widely across social media.
Islam represented the second defendant, Ms Tabassum, in both the trial and sentence. Ms Tabassum was convicted by a majority, whilst the first defendant was convicted unanimously. The Crown alleged that the sentence was in category Culpability A, Harm 2, the starting point for which was 30 years custody.
Due to unforeseen circumstances Islam could not attend the initial sentence listed in May 2025. Church Court Chambers’ Colin Witcher attended, with an addendum sentence note to assist the court to Islam’s note, and submitted to the judge as to how the sentence can be reduced by 50% considering Ms Tabassum’s learning disability and background. The sentence was adjourned until 20 June 2025 for Islam to attend. Please see the reference made by the judge at paragraph 42. of the sentence.
At sentencing, Islam argued that Ms Tabassum be sentenced on culpability D, Harm 3, which had a starting point of 5 years with a range of 3- 6 years’ custody. HHJ Farrer KC agreed with the argument of Ms Tabbassum’s background and difficulties since childhood including her learning disability and immaturity but out of fairness indicated that he was minded to accept Harm 3, culpability C that better reflected the facts of the case.
Notably, this case was reported in The Courts and Tribunal Judiciary as a public interest sentence.
Islam was initially instructed by Clayton Solicitors, who withdrew shortly before the 2nd retrial date due to a conflict, and was then instructed by Maurice Andrews Solicitors.
He also thanks Edward Boateng-Addo and Colin Witcher from chambers for covering at short notice to help in the trial and sentence.
