Judges have decided against increasing the sentences of two teenagers jailed for the unprovoked, racist murder of a popular family man. Kamran Aman, 38, was killed by Marcus Staniforth, 17, and another boy, 16, just moments after the victim had dropped off groceries at his mother's house.
Mr Aman, a father of one, was stabbed to the heart with a kitchen knife shortly after midnight on June 30 last year in Barry. The murderers, both strangers to the victim, were handed life sentences in February with a minimum term of 17 years for Staniforth and 15 years for the other boy.
Attorney General referral rejected
Those sentences were then referred to the Court of Appeal by the Attorney General, who considered them "unduly lenient". But a Court of Appeal spokeswoman confirmed to WalesOnline that judges reviewed the case last week and opted not to change the sentences imposed earlier this year by Mr Justice Griffiths.
According to the BBC, Mr Aman's family attended the Court of Appeal hearing, where they were praised by Lord Justice Popplewell for their dignity. But the Court of Appeal reportedly found the sentence had properly taken into account the seriousness of the teenagers' offending as well as their individual circumstances.
Attack details and trial
Footage of the murder captured the younger boy – who cannot be named for legal reasons – shouting the N-word and a slur against Pakistani people during the attack. He continued to use such language while the victim was bleeding out from the wound. The defendants, of Llantwit Major, admitted only manslaughter but a Cardiff Crown Court jury convicted both of murder.
The sentencing heard a harrowing statement from Mr Aman's wife Khaleela, who said through tears: "Kamran was a larger than life personality with such a big heart who would make sure everyone around him was okay. He never let anyone down."
She said her husband's death had severely affected their daughter, adding: "She will have to live with this for the rest of her life and this will no doubt have an impact on her development emotionally. We loved going to visit castles together as a family and spending days exploring. Our daughter was such a daddy's girl."
Violence and aftermath
Both teenagers had been drinking to excess throughout the day of the murder. In the lead-up the 16-year-old had sworn on his "dead granddad's grave" that he would "stab and murder". Prosecutor Owen Edwards KC said the violence began after the 16-year-old had looked out of the window of a property in Barry Road and seen Mr Aman getting into a Volkswagen Passat.
Mr Aman briefly looked at the 16-year-old and the court heard "it was this simple trigger that seemed to set [the boy] off like a firework". The 16-year-old shouted: "What you looking at bro?" and began punching his own head. He said he was "going to beat people up" and the 17-year-old responded: "Come on bro – let's go. I'll back you."
The younger boy tried to pick up a hammer from a bedroom but was prevented from doing so by a woman at the property. He then ran straight to Mr Aman's car and tried opening the locked passenger door. Mr Edwards said: "Kamran had done nothing to invite trouble. Kamran did not know [the defendants]. Kamran was and always remained entirely unaware of why [the 16-year-old], backed up by his friend, decided to focus his violent rage upon him."
Upon getting out of his car Mr Aman was punched in the face by the 16-year-old. The two exchanged blows. Staniforth returned to the house and picked up a kitchen knife before going back to the scene. Mr Edwards said: "As [the 16-year-old] punched him, Staniforth repeatedly tried to stab him. He succeeded with a single blow which penetrated his heart. The two young men left Kamran to bleed to death on the pavement while concerned neighbours did all they could to assist Kamran."
The boys appeared proud of their actions. The 16-year-old repeatedly shouted the N-word at Mr Aman as he lay dying on the pavement. The court heard there was no racist language from Staniforth but Mr Justice Griffiths found the younger boy had been motivated by racism. Both defendants fled the scene and were later arrested in Court Road. In custody the topless 16-year-old screamed abuse at officers while Staniforth could be seen looking from his cell and saying: "That's my boy."
Mr Aman's mother said the loss of her son had left "a huge void" in her life and that she was tormented by his agonised cries from the night of the killing. She added: "I feel very sad that Kamran's little girl has lost her father at a young age and that as she grows up Kamran's shadow will not be on her head."
Handing down the sentences earlier this year, Mr Justice Griffiths said the boys had "ruined" the lives of Mr Aman's loved ones. He described Staniforth as a "very dangerous young person indeed", adding: "You thought nothing of what you did. You are exceptionally violent and you showed yourself willing to use lethal force for the most trivial reason." The judge said the younger boy started the attack but intended to cause "really serious injury" rather than to kill and did not know about the knife.
