Aya Hachem: Student shot dead 'amid feud between tyre firms'

A law student was "in the wrong place at the wrong time" when she was shot dead amid a feud between two tyre firm owners, a court has heard.

Aya Hachem, 19, was killed in the drive-by shooting in Blackburn, Lancashire, on 17 May 2020.

The incident was the culmination of a long-running dispute between Feroz Suleman, of RI Tyres, and Pachah Khan, of Quickshine Tyres, a jury was told.

Eight people are on trial at Preston Crown Court accused of her murder.

Prosecutor Nicholas Johnson QC said the feud started in early 2019 when Quickshine began selling tyres next door to RI after previously only washing cars.

The "bad blood" between the men escalated and a plan was hatched to kill Mr Khan and/or someone else at Quickshine Tyres, the court heard.

Mr Johnson said: "What happened was planned in detail and involved many people."

The court heard Ms Hachem had been walking along King Street at 15:00 BST when she was hit.

The prosecution allege she was shot by hired hitman Zamir Raja, who was sitting in the back of a Toyota Avensis being driven by Anthony Ennis past Quickshine Tyres.

Mr Johnson said: "Zamir Raja's first shot hit one of the windows of Quickshine, the second hit Aya Hachem.

"Aya had no connection to either Mr Khan, his business, Zamir Raja, or anyone else in this case.

"She was simply unlucky. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Mr Johnson said Mr Suleman was the "organiser of the whole thing" while Abubakr Satia sourced the Avensis used in the shooting and "made sure all the key players were in the right place at the right time".

Both Uthman Satia and his girlfriend Judy Chapman acted as getaway drivers for Mr Raja and Mr Ennis, it is claimed, while Kashif Manzoor ensured the Avensis was running properly.

The prosecution alleges Ayaz Hussain acted as a link between Mr Suleman and gunman Mr Raja.

Mr Suleman, 40, Mr Manzoor, 26, Mr Hussain, 35, Mr Satia, 32, all from Blackburn, Mr Raja, 33, of Stretford, Mr Ennis, 31, of Partington, Mr Satia, 29, and Ms Chapman, 26, both of Great Harwood, all deny murder.

All eight have also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Mr Khan.

The trial is estimated to last up to 10 weeks.

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