Watch the moment brutal murderers who killed man in road rage attack are arrested in Essex

These are the faces of the murderers who have been jailed for life for stabbing a man 11 times at a set of traffic lights, and then tried to flee the country via a lorry in Essex. Sultan Bakr, 23, Sikander Babar, 25, his brother, Abdul Babar, 19, were all handed life sentences after being convicted of murdering 30-year-old Sadiq Al-Lami in Greater Manchester.

Sadiq was brutally attacked following a 'road rage' incident and a high speed pursuit on Kingsway in East Didsbury. It is unclear which one of the trio stabbed Sadiq, but all three were present. Sadiq was driving a grey Mercedes while his killers were in a black Mercedes.

A judge said it had been likely that at one point both cars had been 'racing'. They both stopped at a set of traffic lights. Sadiq was the first to get out and was holding a 'drain rod'. But he was left outnumbered three to one when they all got out. One of his killers had a knife and he was stabbed 11 times, Manchester Evening News reports.

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They left him to die in the road, before trying to cover their tracks and evade capture. Sadiq's family said it was a 'shock' to learn that they knew two of his killers, and that the pair had previously been in the family home. In the aftermath of the killing, on January 23 last year, police said Abdul Babar messaged his hairdresser to book in for a haircut, while Sultan Bakr spent the day ordering fast food deliveries.

Hours later, Abdul Babar was searching the Manchester Evening News website to check for news of the killing, before he began searching online for a solicitor. He and his brother were eventually caught in Essex, after being seen getting out of the back of a van. The pair were seemingly planning to travel to Pakistan. That night, Sultan Bakr boarded a coach to London where he was arrested.

The trio were all handed life sentences at Minshull Street Crown Court today. Sultan Bakr, of Hyde Road, Gorton, will have to serve at least 20 years before being considered for release. Sikander Babar, of Ashdale Drive, Withington, will also have to serve 20 years, while Abdul Babar, of the same address, will have to serve 19 years.

'There is a part of our family missing'

Kareem Al-Lami, Sadiq's younger brother, said in a statement read in court: "All our lives changed the day Sadiq died. That day will stay with us for the rest of our lives. The knock on the door that my Dad had in the early hours. Luckily he had a friend to go with him to the hospital.

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"When there was a family gathering whether for happy or sad times, Sadiq was always there. Now he has gone. There is a part of our family missing. Sadiq was the life and soul of the party.

"Things moved quickly and we started to find out the names of the people who killed my brother, and it was a shock when we realised that we knew most of them and had helped them or their families, and two had even been to our house, Abdul and Sultan.

"We have been kind to them and now they have stabbed my brother to death for no reason." He added: "It has been an emotional rollercoaster. We can never bring Sadiq back for our Mum or Dad. But we will do what we can to help and support them through these difficult times, as their hearts will be forever broken."

Sadiq Al-lami, 30, who was murdered at a set of traffic lights on the A34 Kingsway in Didsbury, Manchester
Sadiq Al-lami, 30, who was murdered at a set of traffic lights on the A34 Kingsway in Didsbury, Manchester -Credit:PA

Judge Maurice Greene said that on the night he was killed, Sadiq had been due to meet his best friend to discuss a trip to Europe for his birthday. "That birthday, he would never see," the judge added.

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After the hearing, Detective Inspector Alex Wilkinson, from GMP’s Major Incident Team said: “My thoughts, and those of the investigation teams, remain with Sadiq’s family and I hope these convictions will give at least some small measure of comfort to his family whilst they continue to deal with the immeasurable pain and heartbreak they are going through.

“Sadiq was described by his family as ‘a son, brother, uncle, a husband, and a friend for many. Each and every single person that knew him will be impacted in their own way. His memories will live with us and will be forever cherished.

“Sadiq lost his life in such a cold and senseless attack. These men had a choice that night and for reasons only known to them, they chose to resort to violence. They have shown no remorse for their actions, and from the very start they have tried to destroy evidence, distance themselves from this attack, even turning against each other in court to try and shift the blame.”

Two cars came into contact at 1.30am

The murder trial heard that the two cars came into contact on Kingsway at around 1.30am. Mr Al-Lami had left home at 1.21am and arrived at the traffic lights at 1.35am. In the moments before their meeting, the Mercedes containing the killers, driven by a man named Noraiz Kamal, 18, of Ashdale Drive, Withington, who was later acquitted of murder and manslaughter, had been seen driving at ‘high speed’ and went through a red light. A witness claimed it had hit speeds of around 90mph in a 40mph zone.

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When the cars joined each other the witness reported seeing men in both vehicles get out before a fight broke out. Sadiq was holding a ‘drain rod’. Prosecutors said there was a 'protracted incident of road rage'.

A witness said he saw one man holding Sadiq by the neck while another stabbed him. He said the man had Sadiq in a ‘bear hug’ as he tried to run away. Sadiq shouted ‘help me’. A pathologist later said he had been stabbed 11 times to his chest and legs. By 1.59am the Mercedes had been abandoned in Wythenshawe. As the Mercedes had left the scene, a package fell from the car which contained Mr Kamal’s name and address. He was arrested at his home hours later, just after 6am.

L-R: Abdul Babar, Sikander Babar and Sultan Bakr
L-R: Abdul Babar, Sikander Babar and Sultan Bakr -Credit:Greater Manchester Police

Abdul Babar and Sikander Babar were arrested on January 29 after being found by police in the back of a lorry in Essex. The day before, Sultan Bakr was arrested at his sister’s home in London.

After the hearing, Karen Tonge, Specialist Prosecutor for CPS North West’s Complex Casework Unit, said: “This was a brutal and vicious group attack. All three men attempted to blame each other for the murder, and although each played a slightly different role, all three men shared a common purpose to cause at least serious harm to Sadiq Al-Lami.

“When you intend to cause very serious harm to someone, and they die the law is clear that is murder. This was clear from their actions before, during and after the murder. All three tried to evade justice. Bakr was traced to an address in London. Brothers Abdul and Sikander Babar were arrested at Clacton-on-Sea railway station, thought to be trying to leave the country.

“Nothing can bring Sadiq Al-Lami back. I can only hope that Sadiq’s family can feel some sense of justice following today’s sentencing. My thoughts remain with them. They have displayed tremendous courage and dignity through this process.”