Driver Found Guilty in Chilling Drive-By Murder of Teenager
A Birmingham man has been convicted of murder for his role as the driver in a drive-by shooting that claimed the life of a 19-year-old. Seraaj Ayub, 24, was found guilty by a jury at Birmingham Crown Court for the murder of Ali Riyan, who was fatally shot while riding on the back of an e-bike in the Alum Rock area.
The court heard how Ayub rented a Mercedes using a photograph of a friend's driving licence and had been living in the shadows to plan the attack. On the evening of October 19 last year, Ayub was behind the wheel when the car pulled up alongside Mr Riyan on Alderson Road.
A Targeted and Brutal Attack
The prosecution detailed a harrowing sequence of events. As the Mercedes drew alongside the e-bike, a shot was fired from the car's rear window. The bike's rider attempted to escape, turning at the junction of Woodlands Road, but the Mercedes gave chase.
A second shot was then fired. This bullet struck Ali Riyan in the back of the neck, causing him to fall to the ground. The rider of the bike managed to get away, but Mr Riyan was left critically injured in the road. A passing motorist discovered him and attempted CPR before he was rushed to hospital. Tragically, the teenager succumbed to his injuries two days later, on October 21.
In the days leading up to the killing, the hired Mercedes had been driven more than 100 miles per day, indicating extensive reconnaissance. The car was later recovered by police on Meridan Road in Tyseley the day after the shooting.
The Cover-Up and Incriminating Evidence
Following the murder, Ayub fled the UK, flying to Bangkok from Manchester Airport. He was eventually arrested on January 28 this year upon his return to the country.
Evidence presented during the trial painted a damning picture of his intent and awareness. His mobile phone contained a series of revealing internet searches, including:
- 'getaway driver of a murder UK'
- 'what happens if you flee the country to avoid jail?'
While on the run, he sent a text message to a friend stating he was 'out of the UK on the run for an M' after a 19-year-old had 'shot my yard', suggesting the killing was an act of reprisal. Most chillingly, he wrote: 'If I get bagged it's 35 years in jail'.
Prosecutor Michael Burrows KC told the jury that Ayub, as the driver, was plainly 'in on the shooting'. He stated: "This shooting was plainly planned wasn't it? People don't go driving around in a car with a loaded gun for fun. They drive around with a loaded gun to use. In this case the gun was used to kill."
After more than 14 hours of deliberation, the jury returned a majority verdict of 11 to one, finding Ayub guilty of murder. Judge Simon Drew KC confirmed that Ayub will receive a mandatory life sentence, with the minimum term to be set at a sentencing hearing provisionally scheduled for December.
