THE mystery killing of a dad-to-be who was bound to the steering wheel of his cab and executed could finally be solved 30 years on.
Ethsham “Shami” Ul-Haq Ghafoor, 26, was shot dead in his taxi in Nottingham on Tuesday November 22, 1994.
A milkman found him with his hands tied and bound to the steering wheel at 4.30am.
The cabbie had been shot dead in what cops have described as an “execution”.
The 30th anniversary of Shami’s killing falls today – and it remains unsolved.
Shami’s daughter was born without a dad, and his mum died without getting justice for her eldest son.
Crimestoppers is offering up to £50,000 for information leading to a conviction.
Detectives believe that Shami had got involved with Nottingham’s “criminal fraternity”.
It is thought he was killed after “finding himself out of his depth” – and fear of gangsters stopped people coming forward with clues.
But cops believe shifting loyalties in the Nottingham underworld could mean key witnesses are now willing to speak.
Well-known taxi driver Shami had been working around east Nottingham on the night he was killed.
He was last seen at 2.40am in Carlton Square with three Asian men in his black and white Ford Sierra.
The milkman found his car at Lambley Lane Playing Fields in Gedling, a village on the city’s outskirts.
It was a secluded place not normally used for taxi pick-ups or drop-offs.
The weapon used to shoot Shami has never been recovered, cops said.
But experts have used new forensic tech to take a fresh look at a number of items from the crime scene.
Several people were arrested at the time of Shami’s murder, but no one has ever been convicted.
Cops believe the answer to Shami’s murder lies within Nottingham’s Asian community.
The Crimestoppers reward is available for three months, expiring on February 22 next year.
‘HORRIFIC CRIME’
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin said: “This was a dreadful murder of a young man.
“A soon-to-be-dad was executed in his own taxi in a secluded area of Nottinghamshire.
“At the heart of this horrific crime is a family that have waited 30 years for answers, for justice, for the closure they rightfully deserve.
“Shami’s mum never got that closure. She died never knowing why her eldest son’s life was taken so cruelly from her.
“His daughter was born without a dad, forced to live with other people’s anecdotes of him, never having any of her own.
“Shami’s brothers and sisters have shown immense bravery and are supporting our appeal.”
ACC Griffin added: “They live with the pain and loss of their brother’s death every day.
“We stand beside them and want exactly the same – to ensure those who took his life are found and put behind bars.
“I would ask the community to do the same. To put themselves in Shami’s family’s shoes.
“Shami’s family can never move on with their lives without answers and you could be sitting on the very answers they require.
“We know that there will be people out there that know what happened, that have that information.
“We know that Shami was probably associating with some members of the criminal fraternity.
“I don’t think he was involved in organised crime, but I do think he got himself involved with people who were.
“He probably found himself out of his depth. This is why I think he was killed.
“We know that loyalties change over the years, and this is exactly what we are relying on.
“We are hoping that people that felt they were not able to speak out all that time ago will feel differently now and feel able to come forward.
“Now is the time to act, to pick up the phone, anonymously, if need be, and provide us with information.
“Crimestoppers is offering up to £50,000 reward as an extra incentive.
“This is a huge reward for information that leads to conviction.
“I would like to personally thank Crimestoppers for their help and wanting to support us in ensuring justice is served.
“A number of reviews of this terrible crime have been carried out over the last 30 years.
“But unfortunately his killer or killers have never been caught.
“We have been working closely with Shami’s family over the last 18 months.
“During this time I have personally met with them several times.
“I have explained to them why we have put together a new team of senior detectives, a fresh pair of eyes, to ensure that no stone is left unturned and that all new and existing avenues are explored.
“We are now calling on the community for their help and assistance to ensure that this crime does not go unsolved.”
FRESH APPEAL
Crimestoppers’ Lydia Patsalides said: “This is a shocking and very sad case.
“Shami’s whole family have waited 30 years for justice and answers which they truly deserve.
“We know it can be difficult for some people to speak directly to the police which is why our charity is here for you.
“We are hoping that with the passage of time it will be easier to share what you know.
“We’ve been passing on information about crime whilst guaranteeing anonymity since we were established decades ago.
“It’s a promise we’ve always kept. Crimestoppers is completely independent of the police.
“You can make a difference by passing on what you know whilst being protected by our guarantee of anonymity.
“That means no police, no courts, no witness statements.
“Put simply, when you contact our charity online or on the phone, there’s no comeback.
“We are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We cannot trace your call or track your IP address.
“No one will ever know you contacted us. You may think your information is insignificant.
“However, it could make all the difference, and you could be eligible for this £50,000 reward.”
Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or call 101 quoting incident number 0300 of November 15.
Assistant Chief Constable Rob Griffin has launched a fresh murder probe[/caption]
