Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Aya Hachem murder: Accused middleman Louis Otway says 'he had nothing to do with the murder'

Aya Hachem, 19, was hit by a stray bulled on May 17, 2020.

Aya Hachem murder: Accused middleman Louis Otway says 'he had nothing to do with the murder'

A Manchester man accused of being 'middleman' in a shooting which killed Salford student Aya Hachem has denied the charges saying that he was unaware of the murder plot.

Louis 'Junior' Otway, 42, is accused of sending hitmen Anthony Ennis and Zamir Raja to shoot Pachah Khan, who owned the Quick Shine Car Wash in King Street, Blackburn.


Khan had issues with Feroz Suleman, who owned RI Tyres in the neighbourhood. In 2020, tension between the two escalated due to business rivalry and the latter hired Raja to kill Khan.

On May 17, Raja travelled to Blackburn in a car driven by Ennis. But their plan failed and Hachem, 19, was struck by a stray bullet shot from their car.

According to police, a bullet passed through her body and embedded in a telegraph pole. Later, she succumbed to injuries.

Both Otway and Suleman stand trial for the murder and the attempted murder of Khan.

Raja and Ennis were convicted at the Preston Crown Court in 2021 and are now serving prison term. Otway told the court that Ennis was staying at his house during the period but he don't know Suleman.

Police said that there were multiple calls between Otway, Raja and Ennis on adjacent days of the shooting. Denying the allegations, he said that those were business calls.

He admitted in the court that he learned about the shooting on May 18 following a phone call with Raja.

According to Otway's statement, he called Ennis repeatedly because he had his door key and he could not get into the house. He added that he also tried to call Raja in connection with a car he was driving to Birmingham.

Otway said that he believed Raja visited Blackburn to buy cannabis or pay Ayaz Hussain, an acquaintance of him, for cannabis.

"I don't know this person. I have got no interest in getting anyone shot. I don't even know the people. Why would I join? Why would I?," he told the court.

More For You

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case
Bhim Kohli

Court to review teen's sentence in Bhim Kohli case

THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

The Attorney General’s Office confirmed on Friday (5) that the teenager’s sentence will now be considered by the Court of Appeal.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama attends a prayer meet held for his long life at the Dalai Lama temple in the northern hill town of Dharamshala, India, July 5, 2025. REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis

Dalai Lama hopes to live 'beyond 130 years'

THE Dalai Lama said on Saturday (5) he hopes to live until he is more than 130 years old, two decades longer than his previous prediction, following his assurance to followers that he would reincarnate as the spiritual head of the faith upon his death.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking during a ceremony organised by his followers to offer prayers for his long life, ahead of his 90th birthday on Sunday (6), and as China insists it will choose his successor. The Dalai Lama told Reuters in December he might live to 110.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK heatwave by mid-July

Daytime temperatures meeting or exceeding set thresholds of 25°C

iStock

Met Office warns of potential third UK heatwave by mid-July

Key points

  • Met Office forecasts rising temperatures by mid-July
  • Possible third heatwave after record-breaking June
  • High pressure system likely to bring hot air from the Atlantic
  • Yellow rain warning and flood alerts issued in parts of Scotland and Cumbria

Possible heatwave to return by mid-July

The UK could experience its third heatwave in a month by mid-July, the Met Office has said. Forecasters expect rising heat and humidity during the second weekend of July, following two weekends of unusually warm weather in late June.

June was officially the hottest on record in England, and the return of high temperatures could mean another heatwave for parts of the country. However, the Met Office cautioned that it is too early to confirm how hot conditions will get.

Keep ReadingShow less
crypto

Two men have been jailed for defrauding investors of £1.5 million through a fake crypto investment scheme. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Two jailed over £1.5m crypto investment scam

TWO people who duped investors of £1.5 million by selling fake investments in crypto have been jailed for 12 years, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said.

Raymondip Bedi, of Bromley, and Patrick Mavanga, of Peckham, conned at least 65 people by cold-calling them between February 2017 and June 2019. They operated companies including CCX Capital and Astaria Group LLP.

Keep ReadingShow less
Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

Photo for representation. (iStock)

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Manchester Police probes over 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects

GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE is now investigating more than 1,000 child sexual abuse suspects, following years of public criticism and institutional failings in tackling child sexual exploitation.

A new report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has revealed the force has made “significant improvements” in dealing with group-based sexual abuse and related crimes.

Keep ReadingShow less