East Midlands Men Deny Murdering Businessman

29 June 2016, 16:27

A businessman and a student from the East Midlands have denied murdering a company director who was shot dead at a warehouse.

Suraj Mistry, 26, and co-accused 18-year-old Lemar Wali entered not guilty pleas over a video-link during a hearing in front of a packed public gallery at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday.

Both were charged in connection with the death of 56-year-old company director Akhtar Javeed in a shooting in the Digbeth area of Birmingham on February 3.

The men have also denied conspiracy to rob the city's Direct Source warehouse between January 1 and February 3, and two counts each of possession of a handgun with intent to cause fear or violence.

Wali, of Osmaston Park Road in Derby, wearing a white Adidas top, and Mistry, of Laundon Way in Leicester, who was wearing a grey t-shirt, spoke only to confirm their names and enter pleas.

A third man, 25-year-old Asif Aurangzaib, of Leacroft Road in Derby, also appeared on conditional bail in the court dock to enter a not guilty plea to a charge of conspiracy to rob the warehouse.

The men are now set to stand trial, in a hearing scheduled to last up to six weeks, on August 8.

Addressing the men, Judge Philip Parker QC said: ``Mr Wali and Mr Mistry the aim still is that your trial takes place on the August 8 and obviously in the meantime you are remanded in custody.''

He bailed Aurangzaib on the same terms as before, which include banning him from Birmingham, reporting daily to the police station and surrender of his passport.

Mr Javeed was killed in what police have described as an attempted robbery on Direct Source 3 Ltd in Rea Street South.