A father of two was subjected to a horrific ordeal involving torture and being set on fire in a Birmingham flat, allegedly because his attackers suspected he had stolen their cigarettes, a murder trial has heard.
Details of the attack
The victim, 32-year-old Khuram Iqbal, died in hospital two days after the attack on 15 March 2023. The incident occurred at a flat in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham. Prosecutors told Birmingham Crown Court that Iqbal was bound, beaten, and had boiling water poured over him before being set alight.
Three men are on trial for murder: Mohammed Zaman, 27, of no fixed address; Mohammed Zubair, 23, of Bordesley Green; and a 17-year-old youth who cannot be named for legal reasons. All three deny murder.
Motive and sequence of events
The court heard that the attack was motivated by a dispute over cigarettes. The defendants believed Iqbal had taken a quantity of cigarettes that belonged to them. The prosecution alleges that the trio subjected Iqbal to a prolonged assault in an attempt to force him to reveal the whereabouts of the cigarettes.
According to the prosecution, Iqbal was tied up and repeatedly punched and kicked. Boiling water was poured over his legs, causing severe burns. He was then doused in an accelerant and set on fire. The attack left Iqbal with burns to 60% of his body.
Aftermath and arrest
Emergency services were called to the flat in the early hours of 15 March. Iqbal was found with catastrophic injuries and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, where he died on 17 March. A post-mortem examination found that the cause of death was complications from burn injuries.
The three defendants were arrested later that day. The trial is expected to last several weeks.
Impact on family
In a statement read to the court, Iqbal's family described him as a loving father and a devoted family man. They said his death had left them devastated and struggling to come to terms with the brutal nature of the attack.
The trial continues.
